The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Paul H. Martin (MCSN: 478075), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Leader of a Fire Team in an Assault Platoon of Company K, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, 15 September 1944. Observing an enemy light machine gun nest and surrounding Japanese infantry positions that were inflicting serious damage among the men of his platoon as they advanced against Japanese troops defending the north end of the beach, Corporal Martin led his fire team swiftly forward in an attack on the hostile positions and, while his men engaged the enemy riflemen in hand-to-hand conflict, crawled to the flank of the machine-gun position and eliminated the emplacement with a hand grenade. Refusing evacuation although severely wounded in this skirmish, he continued to lead his men in the assault until, weakened by loss of blood, he was ordered to be evacuated after all the Japanese positions in the vicinity had been captured. His courage, initiative and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Corporal Martin and the United States Naval Service.