The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant [then Ensign] Clark Magill, United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with a Naval Combat Demolition Unit during the amphibious invasion of Southern France on 15 August 1944. When the remote control equipment with which he was directing the movements of a group of explosive boats to a position off an assault beach commenced to function erratically, Lieutenant Magill braved the enemy fire from shore defenses to maneuver his control boat to within about three hundred yards of the beach and, properly placing and detonating the drones, cleared underwater obstacles for the passage of assault traffic. His resolute courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.