The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant George S. Nixon (MCSN: 0-12515), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as an Assault Line Artillery Observer, attached to the Fourth Battalion, Eleventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, on 9 and 10 January 1944. Braving savage Japanese sniper, machine-gun and mortar bursts, First Lieutenant Nixon accurately spotted the enemy’s fire within fifty yards of his position on the assault line and immediately directed a rapid and continuous artillery bombardment against the hostile position. Subsequently exposing himself to heavy fire during a series of five fierce counterattacks by a battalion of the Japanese, he directed close-in artillery support against the hostile forces and, by his fearless determination, and skill during a critical phase of the action, insured the security of our hastily established defense line. First Lieutenant Nixon’s valiant and aggressive leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval service.