The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Frank D. Lilly (MCSN: 524413), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Platoon Sergeant of a Rifle Platoon of Company I, Third Battalion, Twenty-ninth Marines, SIXTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 17 May 1945. When the advance of his platoon was held up by heavy fire from a hostile strong point during an attack against an enemy objective, Sergeant Lilly courageously and voluntarily moved forward in the face of the heavy fire and, pressing home an attack alone against the position with a sub-machine gun, destroyed the emplacement and killed five of the enemy. By his heroic action, he enabled his group to advance and seize their objective and, by his fortitude and devotion to duty, upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.