The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Bernard A. Booker (MCSN: 484083), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company G, First Battalion, Twenty-second Marines (Reinforced), First Provisional Marine Brigade, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on enemy-held Guan, Mariana Islands, 22 July 1944. Acting voluntarily without orders, Private First Class Booker procured a demolition kit and skillfully advanced under heavy hostile fire to the blind side of a Japanese pillbox and, on three different occasions, prepared charges of explosives and dropped them into the aperture of the pillbox in an effort to annihilate the enemy who were in position to rake our troops with machine-gun fire. Through the cool and efficient manner in which he carried out this mission while under heavy hostile fire, he served as an inspiration to the men in his unit and undoubtedly prevented many casualties. His courage, initiative and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.