The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Platoon Sergeant Lacey M. Ward (MCSN: 293656), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Platoon Leader of Company A, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands on 17 September 1944. Leading his platoon in support of tanks during an attack against strongly fortified hostile positions on the southwest peninsula of the island, Platoon Sergeant Ward directed both the tanks and his men in delivering effective fire which inflicted serious damage on enemy emplacements. Painfully wounded during this action, he refused to be evacuated and continued to direct his platoon’s attack from an unprotected position in the face of intense hostile machine gun and rifle fire until he was ordered evacuated by his Commanding Officer. His courage and determination served as an inspiration to his men and were contributing factors in the success of his company’s attack and in the final annihilation of a determined enemy. His persistent devotion to duty reflects great credit on Platoon Sergeant Ward and the United States Naval Service.