The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Boatswain’s Mate Second Class C. B. Lilly, United States Coast Guard (Reserve), for conspicuous gallantry in action while attached to the U.S.S. JOSEPH T. DICKMAN (AP-26) during the amphibious assault at Salerno, Italy, on 9 September 1943. after landing vehicles upon the designed assault beach in the face of intense enemy gunfire, Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Lilly observed five soldiers struggling in the water and went to their rescue. Discovering three of the men were seriously wounded he worked desperately under exceedingly difficult conditions and succeeded in bringing them safe ashore.