The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Lawrence C. Pugh (MCSN: 520108), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company B, First Battalion, Sixth Marines, SECOND Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands on 22 June 1944. When his squad was pinned down by Japanese machine gun fire while patrolling behind enemy lines, Private First Class Pugh braved the hostile fire to scale a steep cliff and knock out a protected observation post with anti-tank grenades and although wounded during the action, succeeded in silencing all enemy opposition. His courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.