The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Clarence E. Weatherford, Jr. (MCSN: 402677), 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 during the assault on Saipan, Mariana Islands on 7 July 1944. When his battery’s left flank was attacked and the left flank machine gun destroyed by enemy grenades during a Japanese counter attack, Corporal Weatherford brought a right flank machine gun to protect the left flank of the position area and set it up under heavy machine gun and rifle fire. Firing point blank with an automatic rifle, he successfully drew the hostile fire on himself to enable his machine gun crew to locate the enemy automatic weapons. His outstanding courage, initiative and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.