The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Robert B. Bishop (MCSN: 0-17205), United States Marine Corps Reserves, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Forward Observer of Battery G, First Battalion, Fourteenth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, on 22 June 1944. Acting as a Forward Observer with a front line infantry company and directing artillery fire in support of an important attack, First Lieutenant Bishop crossed the crest of a ridge with the company and found himself pinned down by damaging hostile mortar and automatic weapons fire from the front and flanks. Observing that his company was caught in a trap, and unable to move forward or backward, he voluntarily crawled forward to a disabled tank to obtain observation and, standing on top of the tank exposed to intense enemy fire, courageously directed accurate artillery fire against Japanese positions to cover the withdrawal of the infantry behind the crest of the ridge. Undaunted by the hostile machine gun fire which struck the tank, First Lieutenant Bishop bravely remained in this position until the enemy strong points had been neutralized and the infantry had reorganized and taken the Japanese entrenchments. By his unselfishness, courage and initiative in the face of grave peril, First Lieutenant Bishop contributed materially to the success of his Battalion in attaining this important objective with a minimum of casualties. His gallant devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.