The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Oscar D. Sowers (MCSN: 402862), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Battery I, Third Battalion, Tenth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, 7 July 1944. Manning a machine gun post with his crew during an enemy counterattack, Corporal Sowers kept the weapon in action until his position was destroyed by hostile hand grenades and before his gun was destroyed, accounted for thirty-three enemy dead. His courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Corporal Sowers and the United States Naval Service.