The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant George T. Walker, Jr. (MCSN: 0-30478), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Platoon Leader of Company A, First Engineer Battalion, FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu Island, Palau Group on 15 and 16 September 1944. With his battalion under intense enemy rifle and machine gun fire from concealed positions in coral caves hidden by thick undergrowth, Second Lieutenant Walker repeatedly led his men in attacks against the pill boxes which were impeding our advance and voluntarily taking charge of a demolition team, went into the zone of an adjacent battalion where a rifle platoon was sustaining casualties from the fire of a hostile machine gun emplaced in a cave reinforced by concrete. Seeing that the Japanese position could not be flanked, he placed his men in position to fire on the embrasure and, running forward, placed a heavy charge of explosive which destroyed the installation. Throughout succeeding engagements, he continued to lead his men in attacks against the enemy until wounded and evacuated. By his professional skill, courage and devotion to duty, Second Lieutenant Walker upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.