The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Hubert R. Strong (MCSN: 0-36341), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Leader of a Rifle Platoon of Company L, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, on the night of 13 October 1944. Assigned to defend a strategic hill in the central part of the island, Second Lieutenant Strong courageously directed his platoon in repulsing repeated hostile banzai charges. Braving heavy sniper fire, he made repeated trips in front of his own lines to lay new barbed wire and repair the wire which had been cut by the enemy. His cool leadership, tactical ability and devotion to duty in the face of hostile fire reflect great credit on Second Lieutenant Strong and the United States Naval Service.