The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Ray A. Griffith (MCSN: 437389), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Rifleman with Second Battalion, Twenty-First Marines, THIRD Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Asan-Adelup Beachhead on Guam, Mariana Islands, 11 July 1944. Ordered with two comrades to scale a precipitous cliff and cover the advance of the company in its mission of seizing high ground commanding the northern beaches, Private First Class Griffith proceeded under hazardous enemy rifle fire and succeeded in reaching the summit. Valiantly holding his ground alone after the other two men were wounded by fire from a hostile observation post, he returned fire in a counterattack which killed several of the enemy and drove the remainder away from the cliff. Subsequently, Private First Class Griffith covered the advance of his company in the conquest of vital terrain, thereby contributing essentially to the successful seizure of the strategic beachhead. His aggressive fighting spirit, cool and selfless courage and determined devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.