The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Marine Gunner Frederick T. Roberts (MCSN: 0-16404), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving in the Third Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Bougainville, Solomon Islands, 7 November 1943. After engaging a large body of Japanese troops in a fire fight as a member of a patrol operating beyond our lines, Marine Gunner Roberts and his group were ordered to break off the action with the numerically superior force. Finding it impossible to signal a machine-gun crew of the intention to withdraw because of heavy jungle growth and the noise of combat, he courageously braved heavy rifle, mortar and machine-gun fire to traverse the exposed beach and, although wounded by a mortar shell fragment, succeeded in reaching the gun position and informed them of the withdrawal. Despite the pain from his wound, he continued to assist the patrol leader in the withdrawal until our lines were reached. His initiative and intrepid spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.