The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal James J. Roderick (MCSN: 354728), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Leader of a Fire Team of Company K, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, 15 and 16 September 1944. Prepared for any sudden enemy move after counterattacking Japanese had moved into a defiladed area approximately thirty yards from our lines on the night of 15 September, Corporal Roderick instantly went into action when the enemy opened fire with small mortars at dawn, and, boldly stood in the front lines on a rock which afforded superior visibility and threw hand grenades into the defiladed area. Staunchly waging his fierce grenade assault in full view of the enemy, he steadfastly refused evacuation when wounded by an enemy grenade and continued to hurl his deadly weapons with aggressive determination, thereby contributing directly to the destruction of the enemy in the defilade before he was ordered to be evacuated in the early morning. His ready initiative, unfaltering courage and devotion to duty under enemy fire reflect the highest credit upon Corporal Roderick and the United States Naval Service.