The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Fraser E. West (MCSN: 0-7371), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company G, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces during the attack on Fonte Hill, Guam, Mariana Islands on 25-26 July 1944. Ordered to advance with his company to protect the left flank of his battalion, Major West skillfully led his men forward approximately four hundred yards under heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire and personally directed the occupation of his company’s night defensive position. Throughout the night, he traversed the lines from fox hole to fox hole, checking with his men, transferring ammunition to the company on the right and directing tank fire against enemy counter attacks. When the majority of his men had expended their hand grenades, he proceeded two hundred yards to a friendly tank and returning with more grenades, distributed them to the men in the lines. Consistently disregarding enemy fire during the ten hours of fighting he continued to lead his men until wounded by an enemy bullet while directing tank fire on new targets on the morning of 26 July. His courageous leadership throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.