The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Bernard B. Beegle (MCSN: 898402), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a member of a Demolitions Squad of Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 9 May 1945. Voluntarily advancing alone against an enemy machine gun emplacement which was holding up the advance of his company, Private First Class Beegle killed two of the Japanese with hand grenades and, despite intense hostile automatic fire and hand grenades from the emplacement, continued relentlessly in the attack to eliminate the two remaining Japanese with rifle fire. By his initiative, resourcefulness and courageous devotion to duty, Private First Class Beegle enabled his company to advance and attain its objective, and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.