The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class John H. House (MCSN: 470749), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Member of an Artillery Forward Observation Team of the First Battalion, Tenth Marines, SECOND Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands on 22 June 1944. When infiltrating hostile soldiers launched a hand grenade attack against the area where a wounded Marine lay, Private First Class House bravely fought back with small arms fire as long as possible and when the position became untenable, courageously cast aside his only means of defense and exposed himself to the barrage to drag the casualty to a safer place. Guarding the wounded man throughout the night he assisted in his evacuation hours later, thereby undoubtedly saving the man’s life. His courage, devotion to duty and grave concern for the welfare of another were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.