The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Lawrence Lewis (MCSN: 306972), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company L, Third battalion, Sixth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, 2 July 1944. When an enemy machine gun opened fire about fifteen yards from his platoon’s night defensive position, Corporal Lewis braved the intense barrage to lay down a burst of machine-gun fire, silencing the enemy weapon. As the Japanese repeatedly tried to establish a machine gun in that area, he exposed himself to repulse them, accounting for the destruction of four machine guns and their crews. His courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Corporal Lewis and the United States Naval Service.