The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Thomas R. Cleary, Jr. (MCSN: 337076), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Gunner of a Machine Gun Squad of Company D, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Hill 160, Cape Gloucester, New British on 10 January 1944. Volunteering to assist as rifleman in Company C during an assault against a strongly fortified Japanese position well concealed in dense and hilly country, Private First Class Cleary unhesitatingly braved the relentless fury of an enemy machine gun which was inflicting many casualties among our own men and, hurling his hand grenade with aggressive determination, destroyed the gun and its entire crew. Although mortally wounded near the edge of the hostile emplacement, Private First Class Cleary, b his courage, indomitable fighting spirit and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of tremendous odds had contributed to the ultimate success of the attack and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service He gallantly gave his life for his country.