The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Raymond Starkie (MCSN: 527076), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Platoon Runner serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-Third Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Island of Saipan in the Marianas, on 19 June 1944. When his company was pinned down by a powerful concentration of hostile fire during a bitter engagement, Private First Class Starkie continuously exposed himself to the enemy’s devastating barrages to move forward in close coordination with his commanding officer in an attempt to cover him in his advance to the company’s right flank and, fearlessly drawing the Japanese fire away from the officer and upon himself, fought his weapon with determined aggressiveness and succeeded in annihilating eight Japanese soldiers before he fell, fatally wounded by an enemy sniper. By his resolute initiative, indomitable fighting spirit and bold tactics during a critical period of the fierce hostilities, Private First Class Starkie contributed materially to the success of our operations against this vital Japanese stronghold, and his undaunted courage and self-sacrificing conduct in the fulfillment of an extremely hazardous mission upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.