The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Morse “L” Holladay (MCSN: 0-9646), United States Marine Corps, for heroic achievement as Executive Officer, Company L, Third Battalion, Twenty-First Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area on 12 December 1943. With frontal assault troops pinned down by a barrage of hostile fire while storming heavily fortified Hill 1000 on Bougainville, Captain Holladay reconnoitered enemy dispositions and, obtaining vital information, enabled our forces to accomplish their objective. On one occasion he crept to within fifteen feet of a hostile emplacement and, hurling a hand grenade, attracted the enemy concentrated fire to locate Japanese machine-gun and sniper positions. When the advance of his company was halted by enemy fire later in the action, he personally manned a machine gun and with deadly accuracy silenced the hostile weapon. His splendid initiative, intrepid courage and gallant conduct throughout this critical, intensive action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.