The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Warren P. Nichols (MCSN: 0-14463), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Pilot and Tactical Coordinator in Marine Fighter Squadron THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE (VMF-323), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the northeast section of Seoul, Korea, on 26 September 1950. Receiving an urgent request for assistance from beleaguered friendly forces threatened with annihilation and advised of the location of the main concentrations of enemy troops and gun positions, Captain Nichols expertly analyzed the situation and, after carefully briefing his pilots to obtain maximum use of their ordnance, tactically deployed his support aircraft in the vicinity of the hostile locations. Braving intense enemy anti-aircraft fire, he marked each target with smoke rockets and, returning to attack altitude, led his planes in daring bombing runs, personally scoring a direct hit with a 500-pound bomb. Despite the grave risks involved, he remained at a dangerously low altitude to observe the enemy more effectively and to direct his flight in launching bold rocket and strafing attacks which destroyed eight buildings and silenced several gun positions. When the hostile troops started to evacuate the area, he notified the ground controller and led his flight in launching bold rocket and strafing attacks which destroyed eight buildings and silenced several gun positions. When the hostile troops started to evacuate the area, he notified the ground controller and led his support aircraft in repeated low-level strafing runs on a column of fifteen enemy vehicles attempting to escape, destroying seven of them and damaging six others. His superb airmanship, indomitable courage and persistent devotion to duty were contributing factors in the subsequent advance of our forces with little resistance and in the infliction of hundreds of casualties on the enemy, thereby reflecting great credit upon Captain Nichols and the United States Naval Service.