The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Audley D. Morden, Jr. (MCSN: 455519), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Guide in a Rifle Platoon of Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 9 May 1945. While moving directly in rear of the lines to make a report of the situation to the Company Commander, Sergeant Morden observed enemy machine-gun fire coming from a camouflaged cave which had been passed during the initial attack. Skillfully moving into position, accompanied only by his runner, he killed approximately four of the enemy with an automatic weapon and hand grenades and, although wounded, and in a weakened condition from loss of blood, continued to cover the cave until flame throwers and demolition teams were brought up to destroy or seal the remainder of the Japanese in the cave. His courageous fighting spirit and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.