The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Malcolm L. Collins (MCSN: 415285), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the Fourth Battalion, Eleventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Island of Peleliu in the Palau Group on 15 September 1944. Landing on this fiercely defended island during initial assault operations on D-Day, Private First Class Collins advanced with his reconnaissance party in an extremely hazardous mission and coming under a sudden concentration of deadly fire from Japanese snipers located in a well-concealed dugout, fearlessly exposed himself to the savage rain of bullets and relentlessly moved in on the attackers. Undaunted by threatened annihilation, he held the enemy snipers at the point of his gun and enabled members of his part to work up from the flanks and rear and annihilated the hostile position. Mortally wounded during the exchange of hostilities, Private First Class Collins, by his daring initiative indomitable fighting spirit and tenacious efforts, contributed essentially to the destruction of the enemy stronghold and to the occupation of his battalion’s objective. His courageous fortitude and decisive conduct in the face of almost certain death upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.