The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Eugene I. Dockray (MCSN: 351338), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a member of a Machine-Gun Squad serving with the Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, 15 September 1944. Painfully wounded in the bitter fighting when the enemy launched a fierce counterattack against the defensive installations of his company, Private First Class Dockray was carried to the command post and treated by a medical corpsman. Refusing to be evacuated after his wound was dressed, he insisted upon returning to his battle station where he courageously continued to man his machine gun with aggressive determination until he was killed during a subsequent Japanese counterattack later that night. Private First Class Dockray’s indomitable fighting spirit and tenacious devotion to duty under extremely perilous combat conditions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.