The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Robert S. Niese (MCSN: 437080), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Member of the Regimental Quartermaster Section serving with the Twenty-third Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Saipan, Mariana Islands, 15 and 16 June 1944. Sent with a detail to unload gear on the pier at Charan-Kanoa, Private First Class Niese acted on his own initiative in countering the efforts of the enemy to regain the pier, promptly ceasing a machine gun to be broken out and set in order to open fire on Japanese troops. When heavy hostile shellfire forced the evacuation of the pier, he voluntarily remained with a man wounded while withdrawing, fearlessly rendering first aid despite the continued fire of the enemy. While helping to prepare his regiment’s section of the beach for a counterattack, Private First Class Niese daringly carried machine guns into position and set them up under fierce hostile fire. In the performances of this hazardous duty, he sustained a mortal wound to which he succumbed after being evacuated aboard ship. His outstanding courage and inspiring devotion to duty throughout this critical period were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.