The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Lud R. Tucker (MCSN: 0-32275), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDERED TWENTY FOUR (VMF-224), in action against enemy Japanese forces off Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands on 13 May 1945. Flying on combat air patrol to provide protection for a group of naval patrol vessels Second Lieutenant Tucker participated in an attack on four enemy aircraft which were closing with our surface force. When one of the enemy planes attempted a suicide run on a destroyer, he dived through a terrific barrage of anti-aircraft fire from the ships and skillfully fighting his plane assisted another pilot in shooting the hostile craft down in flames. By his superb airmanship, courage and devotion to duty, he contributed materially in saving the ship from destruction and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.