Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Corporal [then Private First Class]

    Action Date:

    July 7, 1944

    Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Pacific: Serial 8062 (February 10, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal [then Private First Class] Orville O. Bierbaum (MCSN: 801801), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while attached to a Marine Rifle Company during action against enemy forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, on 7 July 1944. As an automatic rifleman in a rifle platoon on the defense, Corporal Bierbaum was assigned a position on his company’s flank. During a driving rain in the hours before dawn, the enemy directed an attack against heavy supporting weapons on his left. Unable to assault these positions frontally the Japanese attempted to penetrate the lines at Corporal Bierbaum’s position and outflank these guns. With great skill and courage he drove back repeated assaults with bayonets, rifles, sabers and grenades by masses of enemy infantrymen, and held the line in his sector against heavy odds. With complete disregard for personal safety, he exposed himself again and again in order to gain highly accurate fire against them. Corporal Bierbaum’s heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.