The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Assistant Cook William J. Lahoda (MCSN: 315400), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Battery A, First Battalion, Tenth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Tinian, Mariana Islands, on 2 August 1944. Participating in hand-to-hand fighting with sabers and pistols, Assistant Cook Lahoda aided in repelling an attack on his machine-gun post by five Japanese soldiers and assisted in annihilating three of the enemy and in forcing the others to withdraw. His skill, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.