The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Motor Machinist’s Mate First Class Richard Earl Betty (NSN: 7212168), United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy. On the night of 9 April 1944, Motor Torpedo Boat THREE HUNDRED FORTY-ONE (PT-341) and his boat, Motor Torpedo Boat THREE HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX (PT-336), were engaged by heavy shore batteries between Cape Gordon and Uligen Harbor on the northeast coast of New Guinea. During this action, while serving as 20-mm gunner he was hit by numerous pieces of flying shrapnel in the right arm and the right ankle resulting in a considerable loss of blood and rendering the right leg temporarily useless. The force of the shock knocked him to the deck and stunned him momentarily; however, he quickly recovered and in spite of the pain and loss of the use of one leg, returned to his gun and emptied the magazine, reloaded by himself, and continued to fire an accurate volley into the shore batteries, thus enabling his boat to proceed to safety out of range of the shore guns. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.