The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Pharmacist’s Mate First Class Edwin J. Hearne, United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Corpsman attached to the First Battalion, Tenth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, on 21 November 1943. Landing on the outer edge of a 400-yard coral reef with an artillery headquarters group in the face of bitter hostilities and resistance, Pharmacist’s Mate First Class Hearne immediately made his way forward across the top of a pier, then untenable to our forces, to assist casualties struck down by hostile shellfire rather than proceed to the beach under the comparative protection of the pier. Working tirelessly under constant shellfire directed from Japanese beach positions surrounding the area, he skillfully and efficiently administered first aid to wounded marines, contributing materially to the saving of many lives. By his daring initiative, outstanding fortitude and grave concern for the safety of others at great risk to his own life, Pharmacist’s Mate First Class Hearne was an inspiration to those with whom he served and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.