The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Major Richard M. Day (MCSN: 0-6203), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in aerial flight as Commanding Officer of Marine Fighting Squadron THRE HUNDRED TWELVE (VMF-312), attached to Marine Aircraft Group THIRTY-THREE, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Ryukyu Islands Area, from 9 April to 14 May 1945. With Kadena Airfield under attack as he returned from a routine combat air patrol on 15 April, Major Day unhesitatingly led his division against the enemy planes, dispersing the entire hostile force. Pressing home vigorous attacks against Japanese gun emplacements, troop concentrations and transportation facilities on 17 and 23 April and 5 May, Major Day made repeated low-level strafing and rocket runs through intense barrages of antiaircraft fire, dropping bombs and napalm tanks on hostile strong points and providing support for our ground forces in the southern section of Okinawa Shima. A skilled and daring leader throughout this critical period, Major Day led twenty-three additional combat air patrols to protect friendly shipping and installations from hostile suicide dive bombers, dispersing many Japanese aerial groups and aiding in decreasing the effectiveness of the suicidal assaults which had impeded our operations on Okinawa. Leading sixteen planes in a bold strike against the airfield and installations at Kikaiga Shima on 14 May, as part of a diversionary mission designed to neutralize this field and thereby insure the success of a concurrent aerial attack against another important base, he plunged through withering Japanese fire in three forceful attacks, releasing rockets and strafing the enemy until his plane, struck by hostile fire, plunged to the ground in flames. His superb airmanship, fearless leadership, courage and unwavering devotion to duty during combat against a ferocious and desperate enemy were inspiring to those with whom he served and reflect the highest credit upon Major Day and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.