The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Harry Haywood McIlhenny (NSN: 0-61535), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. REID (DD-369), in a Task Group of destroyers and tank landing ships returning from Finschhafen, New Guinea, on 22 September 1943. When the Group was suddenly attacked by a formation of ten Japanese torpedo bombers, Commander McIlhenny immediately brought his ship into action and took station in the most favorable position to afford protection for the convoy. While the vessel was being subjected to intermittent aerial strafing, he skillfully maneuvered clear of hostile torpedoes, inflicted severe losses on the enemy, and brought his ship and the convoy safely through a perilous encounter with only slight damage from machine-gun fire. His superb seamanship and courageous devotion to duty, maintained at great personal risk in the face of grave danger, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.