The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Howard R. Taylor, Jr. (MCSN: 0-15636), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company A, First Tank Battalion, FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima, Ryukyu Islands on 8 May 1945. When the advance of his tanks was blocked by impassable terrain during an attack against important and heavily defended hostile positions First Lieutenant Taylor courageously reconnoitered on foot far forward of the front lines and constantly exposing himself to heavy enemy fire, located a winding tank route which led through a narrow defile to the rear of the hostile position. Observing that the route was adequate except for a railroad fill running across it at a point well beyond friendly lines he conceived a daring scheme to blast passage through it and summoning demolition engineers forward, personally supervised the blasting of a route across the railroad while still under enemy fire. By his valiant efforts, First Lieutenant Taylor enabled his tanks to advance and launch a surprise attack while resulted in the seizure of the objective. By his coolness, initiative and aggressive fighting spirit, he upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.