The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant Leo J. J. Michaels (MCSN: 0-30642), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR (VMF-224), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 13 May 1945. Flying on radar picket patrol, First Lieutenant Michaels sighted a friendly destroyer lying dead in the water and undergoing attack by a Japanese suicide plane. Diving through intense antiaircraft fire from the ship, he skillfully fought his plane and shot down the hostile craft in flames. By his airmanship, courage and devotion to duty, he aided in saving the ship from destruction and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.