The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private Richard S. Turner (MCSN: 819316), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the Second Battalion, Twenty-third Marines, FOURTH Marine Division during action against enemy Japanese forces at Saipan Mariana Islands on 7 July 1944. With his platoon pinned down by concentrated enemy automatic and small arms fire during an advance across a deep ravine Private Turner unhesitatingly crawled forward alone and fearlessly maintaining his exposed position, relentlessly threw grenades into the mouth of the cave to destroy a Japanese emplacement, persisting in his hazardous mission until mortally wounded by a bursting hostile shell. By his daring initiative, valiant fighting spirit and self-sacrificing devotion to duty in the face of tremendous odds Private Turner contributed materially to the success of the engagement and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.