The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Second Lieutenant Wallace Garland Loftis (MCSN: 0-37595), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for heroic achievement in connection with operations against the enemy while serving with a Marine Infantry Battalion on Okinawa Shima, Ryukyu Islands, on 17 June 1945. Second Lieutenant Loftis, the only remaining officer in his company, acting as Company Commander, led his men in an assault on a heavily defended ridge in the face of heavy enemy fire, with outstanding courage and leadership, and captured the objective. That evening, about one hundred of the enemy made a strong counter-attack against the position held by his company, which at that time had a strength of about ninety men. Lieutenant Loftis, with disregard for his own safety, boldly exposed himself constantly to enemy fire in order to move up and down his company to direct the fire. As a result of his courageous and daring action, the counter-attack was broken and the ridge held, the enemy leaving about fifty dead upon withdrawing. Second Lieutenant Loftis’ splendid initiative and valiant devotion to duty, maintained at great personal risk, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (Lieutenant Loftis is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)