The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private Clifford J. Leger (MCSN: 841590), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Rifleman of Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-first Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Guam, Mariana Islands, on 21 July 1944. When hostile forces threatened to destroy a friendly machine gun section, Private Leger shifted his own position despite heavy enemy fire to protect the besieged section. After all the members of the machine gun crew had been killed or wounded, he manned the gun against the continuing hostile attacks and, although severely wounded, continued to deliver effective fire until evacuated at dawn. By his courage, daring initiative and unselfish devotion to duty, Private Leger upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.