The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Wesley M. Platt (MCSN: 0-5130), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against enemy Japanese forces while attached to the Marine Detachment, First Defense Battalion as Commanding Officer of the Wilkes Island strong point in the Wake Island group on 23 December 1941. When hostile forces affected a landing on his stronghold during the night of 22-23 December, one of Captain Platt’s units was surrounded by the enemy. At daylight he personally led a section of machine guns against a numerically superior force attacking in the direction of the surrounded unit. Stealthily moving through dense underbrush he directed his men in attacks against several strongly defended hostile positions reducing each one in turn until he joined forces with his other unit. Captain Platt then reorganized his troops and courageously led them in further attacks against the enemy in the face of intense machine gun, rifle and grenade fire. Under cover of fire from his machine guns he guided his small force to assault each position and overcame the Japanese in fierce hand to hand combat. By his heroism, tactical skill and aggressive fighting spirit, Captain Platt contributed greatly to annihilating or capturing all the enemy who had landed on the island and his conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.