The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Donald A. Taylor (MCSN: 351734), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with an Assault Company of the Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu Island, Palau Islands, 28 September 1944. When his squad was pinned down by heavy hostile automatic and rifle fire and two of the leading men were wounded, Private First Class Taylor voluntarily advanced to an extremely exposed position beyond the wounded men and covered their evacuation by pouring a steady stream of bullets from his Browning automatic rifle on the enemy until he was fatally wounded. His courageous initiative and self-sacrificing conduct reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Taylor and the United States Naval Service. Private First Class Donald A. Taylor gallantly gave his life for his comrades.