The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Lee R. Polk (MCSN: 404656), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as the leader of a rocket launcher team of Company B, First Battalion, Fourth Marines (Reinforced), First Provisional Marine Brigade in action against enemy Japanese forces on Guam, Mariana Islands on 2 July 1944. In the face of heavy enemy fire, Private First Class Polk knelt in a ditch beside this gunner to help load the rocket launcher and after stopping the first tank which had advanced to within fifteen feet of his position, fired his second round at the nest tank, forcing out one of its occupants. Putting the first tank out of commission with his third round, he prepared to fire again at the second armored vehicle when his gunner was killed just as our tanks came up to dispose of the remainder of the enemy tanks. His courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Polk and the United States Naval Service.