The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Joe E. Vargas (MCSN: 335700), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company A, First Battalion, Eighteenth Marines (Engineer), SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, 3 July 1944. Under heavy enemy fire, Sergeant Vargas brought the assault engineers up to a cave and moved in flame throwers to lead the attack and, when one flame-thrower operator was severely wounded, moved forward to the wounded man and carried him to the rear for first aid. Returning to the cave, he used demolitions and grenades to dispose of this enemy position and two others. His courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Sergeant Vargas and the United States Naval Service.