The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal George Derderian (MCSN: 498989), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Headquarters Assault Company, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, from 15 to 29 September 1944. When hostile forces in a by-passed pillbox threw out grenades and wounded a Marine during the initial landing, Corporal Derderian braved the intense enemy fire to advance toward the fortification and neutralize it by setting off demolition charges, thus eliminating a serious threat to the successful landing of succeeding waves of our troops. Skillfully working his way up the side of an enemy-held hill on another occasion, he set off demolition charges and destroyed two large caves, an ammunition dump and killed many of the enemy whose fire had been retarding the advance of our troops. Repeating his hazardous trip up the hill a second time, he blew up a fieldpiece and a machine gun, thereby contributing materially to the successful capture of this hill. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.