The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Leroy N. Preston, Jr., United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Medical Corpsman attached to the FIRST Marine Division, in action on 19 August 1942 at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. While serving with a patrol assigned the mission of destroying an enemy outpost, Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Preston repeatedly risked his life in heavy and accurate enemy machine gun and rifle fire to rescue a wounded comrade and render effective first aid. Two days later he rushed forward, undeterred by the fire from enemy automatic weapons, to treat the wounded men in the front line of battle. Largely as a result of his valiant devotion to duty, many lives were saved and his courageous conduct was an example to the men of the patrol. during World War II while serving as a Corpsman attached to a Marine Division. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.