The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal James R. Dahleen (MCSN: 475248), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Squad Leader with Company C, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, on 28 September 1944. When intense hostile machine-gun fire pinned down and inflicted casualties on members of his company as they were attacking through a narrow draw, Corporal Dahleen braved the heavy barrage to keep his men in position to cover four trapped Marines who had lain for several hours in a perilous location while hostile fire played around them. Courageously exposing himself to the curtain of fire after one man had been wounded in the same attempt, he made two heroic dashes into the draw to assist one wounded man to safety and then conduct the three other casualties out of the reach of gunfire. Again exposing himself to the continuous barrage, he pointed out the hostile position and enabled our tanks to bring it under fire, thereby contributing materially to overcoming this strong resistance. His outstanding courage, devotion to duty and grave concern for the welfare of others were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.