Roy Holland Elrod, Jr.

Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Marine Corps

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, United States Army Forces in the South Pacific Area, General Orders No. 47 (February 22, 1943)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) to Second Lieutenant Roy H. Elrod (MCSN: 0-12695), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for gallantry in action on 15 and 16 January 1943, on Guadalcanal.
Serving with a Regimental Weapons Company attached to a Marine Battalion, he commanded a hastily formed platoon of the thirty-two men. While attached to one company on 15 January, he led his platoon against heavy machine gun fire, destroying emplacements and many enemy.
Later on 16 January, while attached to another company, he led his platoon against heavy machine guns and other emplacements.