The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain [then Commander] Jacob Wilson Waterhouse (NSN: 0-62529), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. LUCE (DD-522), assigned to Radar Picket duty, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Okinawa Jima Area from 1 April to 4 May 1945. With his ship a frequent target for many extraordinarily heavy hostile raids, launched day and night against our expeditionary force at Okinawa, Captain Waterhouse performed the vital functions of providing early air warning and fighter direction which, together with his ship’s gunfire, accounted for large numbers of enemy planes and prevented air attacks in strength on the Naval forces off the beachhead. When his ship was severely damaged during a savage hostile suicide attack, he inspired his men to remain at their stations and carry on the fight until the order was given to abandon ship. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.