The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Clarence H. Melton (MCSN: 343597), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Member of a Rifle Platoon of Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 20 June 1945. Assuming command and skillfully organizing his platoon after its Leader had been wounded, Corporal Melton led his men in a valiant charge across an exposed area in the face of severe enemy sniper and machine-gun fire and seized the objective, holding it until forced to retire by numerically superior enemy forces and then strategically withdrawing his men to prepare for further attack. Later, he launched forward another determined attack and successfully overran the objective with his men. His outstanding courage and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.