The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Seth T. Garner (MCSN: 416496), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Group Leader of the First Battalion, Second Marines, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, 24 June 1944. With his Battalion in attack, Private First Class Garner led a unit which made contact with a counterattacking force of thirty Japanese. With all save one of his men killed during the ensuing fire fight, he exerted tremendous effort and, although painfully wounded by an enemy grenade, tenaciously held the line at that point. Killing the Japanese officer leading the counterattack, he succeeded in disorganizing the group and in frustrating their attempts to break through out lines, thereby contributing materially to the effectiveness of his Battalion’s attack. Private First Class Garner’s courage, initiative and devotion to duty in the face of strong opposition were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.