The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technical Sergeant James B. Kirk (MCSN: 280675), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Headquarters Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Regiment, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, 2 October 1944. When his wire crew was pinned down by a concentration of hostile mortar fire just short of its destination, Technical Sergeant Kirk voluntarily proceeded alone along a route rendered hazardous by enemy sniper fire and continued to lay the line forward. Discovering that the newly laid line had been destroyed by mortar fire, he again braved intense fire to lay a new line back to the battalion command post, thereby reestablishing vital communications. By his courage, initiative and devotion to duty, Technical Sergeant Kirk upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.