The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Thorne T. Kinsey (MCSN: 510745), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Machine Gun Ammunition Carrier of Company C, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, 28 September 1944. When one of our machine-gun squads were pinned down by hostile fire from a cave killing two men and wounding several more, Private First Class Kinsey courageously advanced on the cave firing his weapon and throwing hand grenades and, after working his way to the mouth of the strong point, killed one and possibly more of the enemy. Remaining alongside the cave to throw grenades, he continued harassing the Japanese until one of our bazooka men arrived. Providing cover until his companion had expended his ammunition supply, he remained at the opening until driven down by the fire of the hostile gun, thereby contributing materially to the rescue of several trapped Marines and to the delay of hostile fire on our machine gun squad until it could find better cover and protection. His outstanding courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.