The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Albert W. Skerston (MCSN: 284511), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company L, Third Battalion, Sixth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, 25 June 1944. Leading an assault upon a heavily wooded slope when the first platoon suddenly met intense fire from well-concealed hostile machine gun nests, causing several casualties, Sergeant Skerston immediately seized a rifle grenade launcher and, braving the heavy enemy fire, advance to within a few yards of the Japanese and fired a rifle grenade, destroying two machine guns and killing three enemy soldiers. Subsequently leading a squad of riflemen against the remaining four emplacements, he destroyed all of them and enabled his company to continue the attack and seize its objective. His courage, initiative and zealous devotion to duty throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.