The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private Joseph Gatto (MCSN: 503848), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company K, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, on 16 September 1944. While members of his platoon were evacuating their wounded to the rear from a tank trap in which they were pinned down by Japanese machine gun fire, Private Gatto unhesitatingly risked his life to crawl out of the trap through a devastating hail of bullets and, on his own initiative, silenced the hostile machine gun nest with grenades and rifle fire. Although mortally wounded while performing his voluntary task, Private Gatto persistently refused to be evacuated and continued to harass the Japanese for forty minutes and, by his fearlessness and valiant determination, provided effective protection until the wounded had been removed to safety, succumbing to his own wounds a short time after his mission had been completed. His inspiring conduct and loyal spirit of self-sacrifice were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.