The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Harry E. Wheeler (MCSN: 0-13264), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Operations Officer of the Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands from 15 September to 26 October 1944. When two of our companies lost contact in the hills on 19 September, First Lieutenant Wheeler established the company flanks and crossing the large gap alone under relentless hostile sniper fire, succeeded in re-establishing contact and thereby prevented a possible enemy break through. With his battalion occupying positions on ridges to the rear of a long draw on 22 September he led a patrol up the draw in the face of intense Japanese mortar, artillery and sniper fire and by his resolute effort was in large measure responsible for the establishment of contact with the adjacent unit and for the location of an enemy artillery emplacement which was causing heavy casualties in a regimental weapons company. By his heroic courage on these and numerous other occasions, First Lieutenant Wheeler contributed materially to the success of our operations in these areas and his devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the traditions of the United States Naval Service.