The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) to Platoon Sergeant Elzy Kees, Jr. (MCSN: 322667), United States Marine Corps, for gallantry in action while serving with the Fourth Marine Raider Battalion at Vangunu, Solomon Islands, in personally locating and directing fire against enemy emplacements, and in killing three enemy snipers who were harassing the machine-gun crews of his platoon on 1 July 1943.