The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Samuel J. Jarvi (MCSN: 339197), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Squad Leader of an Assault Platoon of Company K, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, on 15 and 16 September 1944. While leading his group in an assault against hostile positions defending the north end of the beach, Sergeant Jarvi skillfully maneuvered his men in fierce hand-to-hand conflict and, although half his squad became casualties, succeeded in destroying numerous light emplacements and in killing twenty-six Japanese defenders. Suffering a deep wound during a furious counterattack that night, he steadfastly refused evacuation and, after bandaging the wound himself, fearlessly directed the fighting of his squad and fought with his machine gun and hand grenades to maintain his own position until the following morning when the attacking force had been annihilated and orders were received for his evacuation. His outstanding courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.