The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Ray Rickles (MCSN: 337560), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the Fourth Battalion, Eleventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Peleliu, Palau Islands, on 15 September 1944. When a heavily fortified, deeply entrenched hostile pillbox retarded the advance of his battalion, Private First Class Rickles, on his own initiative, boldly charged the emplacement despite the enemy’s fanatic resistance and, by a brilliantly executed strike, succeeded in neutralizing the Japanese position. By his daring initiative, fearless determination and outstanding devotion to the completion of an extremely perilous task, Private First Class Rickles upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.