The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Cook Fook Liang, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving aboard the Light Cruiser U.S.S. MARBLEHEAD (CL-12), when that ship was bombed by Japanese planes during the Battle of the Java Sea on 10 February 1942. A Chinese cook serving on board the MARBLEHEAD, Fook Liang was badly shaken by a bomb hit which killed or wounded a number of men in his section of the ship. Despite this, he rescued his wounded comrades from the blazing area. His gallant actions and selfless devotion to duty, without regard for his own safety, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.