The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Irving Joseph Superfine, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving aboard the U.S.S. GRAYSON (DD-435) during salvage operations in the Solomon Islands vicinity in October 1942. Acting as Officer-in-Charge of a salvage crew, Lieutenant Superfine, with his limited personnel, daringly boarded an abandoned vessel in an active combat area in order to obtain strategic material. After working tirelessly over a period of several days, under most difficult and trying conditions, he brought out his ship and a barge containing a valuable cargo of bombs and aviation gasoline, dropping anchor safely after a four-hundred mile passage in spite of enemy observation and attack. His courageous leadership and the devotion to duty of his crew made possible the accomplishment of an important mission. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.