The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Chief Pharmacist’s Mate Roy James Barnhill (NSN: 2617429), United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Hospital Corpsman during action against the enemy on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, while serving with Company A, Second Medical Battalion, Division Service Troops, SECOND Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. On the night of 21 November 1943, in the face of intense enemy opposition, he organized a party of hospital corpsmen and stretcher bearers and successfully evacuated many seriously wounded men from an insecure portion of the beachhead. The exposure to enemy fire required the use of riflemen to provide cover for the men under his direction. The men evacuated by this method had been wounded for periods ranging from twenty-four to thirty-six hours prior to this time, and many of them would probably have died of their wounds and the intervening exposure if evacuation had not been effected. He set an example for the men of his party through his cool thinking in the face of great danger, his devotion to duty, the humanitarian direction of his efforts, and his total disregard for personal safety. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.