The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Ernest Lloyd Buckley, Jr. (MCSN: 556483), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Rifleman serving with Company G, Third Battalion, Twenty-Ninth Marines, SIXTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 16 April 1945. Fearlessly leading his platoon up a precipitous and strongly held hostile ridge, Private First Class Buckley advanced rapidly from point to point and, taking very little cover, accurately fired on the Japanese and hurled hand grenades into their groups, inflicting heavy casualties. Recognizing the danger to friendly troops and wounded ahead of the lines when a superior officer ordered hand grenades to be thrown into a nest of snipers, he insisted on personally leading the charge against these snipers and, by successfully overrunning the enemy position, enabled his men to reach the wounded and also continue the advance. His courageous tactics and indomitable fighting spirit assisted materially in the success of the assault and reflected great credit upon Private First Class Buckley and the United States Naval Service.