The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Clare Brown Smiley (NSN: 0-71410), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Executive Officer on board the U.S.S. STEWART (DD-224) in action against a greatly superior Japanese Naval force in the Badoeng Strait, off the Island of Bali, Netherlands East Indies, on the night of 19 – 20 February 1942. At the outset of the engagement, after releasing torpedoes to port and commencing gunfire, STEWART was subjected to vigorous shelling by a Japanese cruiser and a destroyer. When a salvo from the cruiser eventually straddled its target and numerous shell fragments from “shorts” pierced the bridge, Lieutenant Commander Smiley was severely wounded. Despite the fact that his right leg was broken and he was bleeding profusely, he persisted in carrying on with utter disregard for his own personal safety until, during a slight lull between two phases of the night’s action, his Commanding Officer overrode his protests and ordered him carried below. His inspiring devotion to duty and courageous conduct under extreme physical pain were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.