The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Platoon Sergeant Robert T. Nichols (MCSN: 275001), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as a scout of the Regimental Intelligence Section of the Third Marines, Third Marine Division, in the landing at Cape Torokina, Bougainville Island, on November 1, 1943. Although his boat was continually subjected to intense hostile machine-gun fire and had been struck by thirty to forty bullets during the approach to the beach, Platoon Sergeant Nichols unhesitatingly stood up in the boat in order to locate the source of the fire and accurately direct his boat guns against the enemy. Subsequently, overhearing the Sector Commander express concern for the front line units and the difficulties imposed by a large gap existing between the battalion and its left flank force, he voluntarily set out alone on an extremely dangerous reconnaissance mission, penetrating deep into hostile territory to discover the extent of Japanese activities, and despite persistent enemy fire, made his way back to the Command Post to report the invaluable information he had gathered. Platoon Sergeant Nichols’s splendid initiative and valiant devotion to duty throughout this period of vital offensive operations were in keeping with the highest traditions if the United States Naval Service.