The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Elery G. Poppe (MCSN: 0-27186), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while attached to Company L, Third Battalion, Eighth Marines, SECOND Marine Division during action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands on 1 July 1944. Assigned to seize and important objective across rough terrain, Second Lieutenant Poppe repeatedly exposed himself to heavy machine gun fire to coordinated and organize the attack and directing his men in a determined assault against fiercely resisting Japanese troops seized the objective and enabled the advance to continue. His aggressive and enabled the advance to continue. His aggressive leadership and courageous devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.