The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel Richard C. Nutting (MCSN: 0-5575), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion, Second Marines, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Island of Saipan, Mariana Islands, from 15 to 17 June 1944. After his battalion landed under fire on 15 and 16 June, Lieutenant Colonel Nutting braved artillery, mortar and small-arms fire to reorganize his command and to fill the gap between a regiment and the element on its right. Then establishing himself in a front-line observation post, he directed the defense of his sector during the enemy tank and infantry counterattack of 17 June, thereby contributing directly to the repulse of the counterattack in that sector and to the destruction of many of the enemy. His courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Colonel Nutting and the United States Naval Service.