The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Herbert W. Thompson, Jr. (MCSN: 0-15640), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Platoon Leader of the First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands on 20 September 1944. When units on his flanks were pinned down during an assault on a high and barren coral ridge, First Lieutenant Thompson led his platoon forward over open ground covered with enemy machine gun and sniper fire for about a hundred yards until halted by a severe mortar concentration which caused serious casualties. Although twice wounded by machine gun fire he refused to be evacuated and organized a position to hold the ground they had seized. He then remained with the remnants of his platoon for three hours until all other casualties were removed before he himself was evacuated. His leadership, courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon First Lieutenant Thompson and the United States Naval Service.