The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Dennis M. Taylor (MCSN: 0-11000), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company I, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, 15 September 1944. Landing with his company on the center of the beach, Captain Taylor maneuvered his men against strongly entrenched enemy positions to his front and in the face of intense machine gun, mortar and artillery fire, led his assault platoons against high commanding ground eliminating one block house and six pillboxes which had been effectively firing on our units. On the following day when a large gap occurred between his company and the unit on his right, he proceeded through intense machine gun and rifle fire to contact the adjacent unit and upon his return led the men from his company into the gap, clearing it of the enemy and reestablishing contact. His courage, leadership and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Captain Taylor and the United States Naval Service.