The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Walter H. Brake (MCSN: 430660), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Headquarters and Service Battery, Second Battalion, Twelfth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on the Asan-Adelup beachhead, Guam, Mariana Islands, 26 July 1944. Voluntarily going forward with a small group of men to engage and destroy hostile forces that had broken through our front lines and were threatening our beach areas, Private First Class Brake repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire in his attempts to drive back the Japanese. Charging up a gully after grenades had been thrown, he killed one of the Japanese with rifle fire, while another was killed within ten feet of him and a third blew himself up with a grenade. After six hours of fatiguing and almost continuous contact with the enemy, he volunteered to take a message to the infantry holding the front lines to advise them that Japanese troops had been sighted on their flank. Passing near the enemy, he ran into small arms fire and in returning the fire killed one of the Japanese. Completing his mission, he returned to his patrol to help destroy the remaining Japanese. His courage, initiative and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Brake and the United States Naval Service.