The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Francis J. McCloskey (MCSN: 371744), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Member of an Artillery Forward Observation Party of Battery F, Second Battalion, Twelfth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Guam, Mariana Islands, on 26 July 1944. Observing that enemy troops had broken through to the rear of the Marine Lines, Private First Class McCloskey moved forward in the face of heavy enemy rifle fire to warn the infantry of an impending attack from the rear and then close to fight with the infantry in repulsing the attack. Volunteering to protect the wounded while walking to the aid station, he returned heavy enemy fire to enable the casualties to reach their destination and, when one of the men with the Forward Observation Party was mortally wounded by mortar fragments, assisted in dragging his wounded comrade one hundred fifty yards through intense enemy fire in an effort to save his life. His skill, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.