The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Richard Maddox Combs (ASN: 0-25727), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 164th Infantry Regiment, 23d Infantry Division (Americal), in action at Bougainville, Solomon Islands, on 28 February 1944. While leading a combat patrol in an attack at Bougainville, Lieutenant Combs encountered bitter enemy resistance from heavily-fortified positions protected by barbed wire. After adjusting artillery fire on the stronghold, he led his patrol forward again until hostile fire pinned him to the ground and wounded four of his men. Lieutenant Combs then courageously crawled forward alone to within a few yards of the enemy, killing one Japanese and hurling hand grenades into a machine-gun nest before he was fatally wounded. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Combs, 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 Army.