The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Dewey J. Grove (MCSN: 849523), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as an Automatic Rifleman of Company A, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, 16 September 1944. While his squad was maneuvering into position to assault one entrance of a hostile pillbox, Private First Class Grove suddenly observed a group of twelve Japanese, led by an officer brandishing his saber, rush from another entrance of the pillbox toward the exposed flank of the squad. Quickly standing up, he opened fire with his automatic rifle and succeeded in annihilating the entire group, thereby saving the lives of many of his comrades and contributing materially to the annihilation of a determined and strongly entrenched enemy. His quick-witted initiative, skill and courageous devotion to duty reflect great credit upon Private First Class Grove and the United States Naval Service.