The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Michael W. Modla (MCSN: 375352), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Squad Leader of Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, 16 September 1944. Although losing all but three of his men during an attack across fourteen hundred yards of open airfield covered by intense hostile artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire, Corporal Modla bravely continued working his way forward until, in the confusion of the battle, found himself on the far side of the airfield completely out of contact with his platoon. Surrounded by three active enemy pillboxes, he courageously rushed up and threw hand grenades into two of them, knocking two machine-guns out of action, while one of his three remaining comrades destroyed the other emplacement. His outstanding courage and devotion to duty in the face of extremely heavy odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.