The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant John Crawford (MCSN: 376831), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Non-Commissioned Officer-in-Charge of a 75-mm. Self-Propelled Gun of Weapons Company, Twenty-second Marines (Reinforced), First Provisional Marine Brigade in action against enemy Japanese forces on Guam, Mariana Islands on 26 July 1944. Although ordered to abandon his armored vehicle after it was damaged by heavy enemy fire, Sergeant Crawford steadfastly continued firing the forward machine gun to cover our advancing infantry. After exhausting his machine gun ammunition he fired all available carbine ammunition, abandoning his vehicle only after further hits rendered it completely ineffective. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.