The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Wendell D. Peacock (MCSN: 388186), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as leader of a machine gun squad of Company K, Third Battalion, Sixth Marines, SECOND Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Saipan, Mariana Islands on 15 June 1944. Wounded upon reaching the beach after landing with the assault waves, Corporal Peacock refused evacuation and exposing himself to hostile fire in order to find a position from which to put his gun into action, chose an enemy trench and delivered extremely affective fire against hostile pill boxes, machine guns and troop concentrations, thereby enabling his company to organize quickly and attack inland. Unable to move due to the congestion of troops in his sector when the Japanese directed mortar fire upon him, Corporal Peacock kept his gun in action until it was destroyed by a direct hit which wounded him again and necessitated his evacuation. His outstanding courage, initiative and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.