The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Edward F. Shea (MCSN: 354802), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Fire Team Leader of Company A, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on enemy-held Peleliu, Palau Islands, 17 September 1944. During violent fighting while his company was attacking steep coral ridges which were heavily fortified with numerous enemy automatic weapons emplaced in caves, Private First Class Shea assumed command when the Platoon Leader and all the non-commissioned officers in the platoon became casualties and, reorganizing the platoon under intense hostile machine-gun fire and a mortar barrage, continued the attack. When a well entrenched machine gun, firing pointblank from the ridge, held up the advance, he boldly exposed himself to the enemy barrage to direct the fire of a supporting tank into the hostile gun position. His outstanding courage, initiative and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.