The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Edward M. Whalen (MCSN: 416229), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Mortar Observer of Headquarters Company, Second Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Guam, Mariana Islands on 23 July 1944. Volunteering to go forward of his own front lines in an effort to locate and destroy enemy positions holding up an attack by his company, Private First Class Whalen advanced alone for seventy yards over open ground in the face of heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire which was enfilading the company from both flanks. Then, directing the fire of the mortars on five enemy pill boxes which resulted in the annihilation of twenty-five Japanese and the rout of fifteen others, he enabled the company to execute a coordinated attack and seize its objective. His courage, fortitude and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.