The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Ellsworth W. Russell (MCSN: 913081), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company G, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, 3 October 1944. While his advance platoon was cut off from the rest of the company by heavy enemy fire from a ridge to its rear, Private First Class Russell saw two wounded Marines lying helpless along the exposed crest and, traversing the hazardous way back along the narrow ridge through a withering barrage of hostile machine-gun and sniper fire, made tow successive trips to rescue them. Again risking his life to supply his company with urgently needed weapons, he set out to recover the automatic rifles of the wounded Marines and, although wounded by enemy fire himself, persisted until he succeeded in this self-appointed perilous task. By his repeated acts of heroism, Private First Class Russell saved the lives of tow comrades and contributed materially to the success of his platoon in an important engagement. His cool courage and great personal valor in the face of grave peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.