The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Lawrence P. Harris (MCSN: 0-8370), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company E, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division during action against enemy Japanese forces on Cape Gloucester, New Britain, from December 29, 1943 to January 3, 1944. During his period of desperate defense of our precarious positions in dense jungle, Captain Harris commanded his company with such splendid efficiency and inspiring courage that every hostile attack was repulsed with severe losses to enemy forces outnumbering his company two to one. On one occasion when a powerful force assaulted the position of his company and effected a penetration at one point, he reorganized this section of the lines while under heavy Japanese fire and successfully repulsed the attack, inflicting many casualties on the enemy. Captain Harris’ brilliant leadership and gallant devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.