The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Technician Fifth Grade Louis R. Reed (ASN: 33110673), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 27th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy North of Tanapag Harbor, Saipan, Mariana Islands, on 7 July 1944. Functioning all day as a rifleman, Technician Fifth Grade Reed, a regular message center man, performed his duties in a superior manner. In the afternoon at about 1400, when the company started to advance, Technician Fifth Grade Reed kept a place in the lead. During the advance, when he saw a fellow soldier fall wounded, with complete disregard for his own life, he started forward to help recover the man and displace him to the rear. Making his way over the swampy, open ground, he reached the wounded man and was just starting to help him when he was shot and instantly killed by enemy rifle fire.