The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander James Malcolm Stewart (NSN: 0-160995), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. LSMR-409 in combat against an armed enemy of the United Nations in the Korean conflict. During the engagement with the enemy in Wonsan Harbor, North Korea, on 17 July 1951, Lieutenant Commander Stewart distinguished himself by his gallantry and intrepidity in maneuvering his ship among the plumes of the enemy’s fire from shore batteries, all the while delivering rocket and continuous and effective counter battery fire against these enemy batteries at a time when the enemy was making his most determined effort to drive United Nations Naval forces from Wonsan Harbor. In total disregard of his own safety and for a period of about forty minutes, while his ship was exposed to a type of enemy plunging fire which made the ships unprotected conn station extremely dangerous, and while his ship was being hit by shell fragments from near misses, he conned his ship skillfully and delivered counter-battery fire accurately and assisted greatly in silencing the enemy’s guns. His gallantry and intrepidity throughout this engagement reflect outstanding credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.