The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Bruce L. Coburn (MCSN: 0-8660), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company E, Third Battalion, Sixth Marines, SECOND Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Saipan, Mariana Islands on 24 June 1944. Ordered to attack enemy positions in a heavily wounded ravine, Captain Coburn deployed his men for the attack on the hostile strong points which consisted of heavy machine guns covering the steep-walled approaches to the ravine and although wounded three times in the leg disregarded his painful injuries to remove a more seriously wounded man from the line of enemy fire, after which he continued to direct the operation and refused to be evacuated until its success had been assured. His outstanding leadership and devotion to duty under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.