The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Francis M. Sweeney (MCSN: 343838), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Sergeant Guide of Company B, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, from 15 to 28 September 1944. After his platoon had fought its way to the edge of the airstrip on the first day of the campaign, Sergeant Sweeney courageously and voluntarily ran twenty yards out on the open airfield under hostile sniper and mortar fire to lay out an aircraft panel and inform our planes of the infantry’s position. Although wounded in the course of this action, he refused to return to the aid station. On 26 September, when his Platoon Leader was wounded and his Platoon Sergeant killed during an assault in the northern sector of the island, he quickly reorganized the unit and set up a hasty defense for the night. On the following day, he boldly led his men in blowing up caves and in mopping up the remainder of the resistance, and succeeded in securing the left sector of the hill. By his able leadership, courage and unselfish devotion to duty, Sergeant Sweeney upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.