The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain James J. O’Reilly, Jr. (MCSN: 0-24955), United States Marine Corps, for outstanding service in the line of his profession while serving as command pilot of a Marine transport aircraft supporting the FIRST Marine Division in the Cheanjin and Chosin Reservoir, in action against overwhelming enemy forces and the subsequent evacuation of Hamhung, Mungnam, Korea, area, from 29 November 1950 to 25 December 1950. Assigned to the forward area as a jet fighter pilot, Captain O’Reilly volunteered foir evacuation duty at a time when the Headquarters flight section was experiencing a critical shortage of pilots during continuous twsenty-four hour periods of emergency flight operations while attempting to relieve the entrapment of the First Marine Division. Flying under extremely adverse conditions, including severe icing in below zero temperatures, and despite intense enemy fire from automatic weapons, artillery, and mortars, Captain O’Reilly, without regard to personal safety or fatigue, evacuated over one hundred FIRST Marine Division critically wounded and frostbite cases from the Hagaru airstrip to Yongpo airfield, Hungnam. His tireless efforts in the face of impossible odds contributed to the functioning of the Wing flight section and the eventual success of the evacuation. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.