The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander John Storer Bonte, United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as a Division Leader of a Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron operating in the Solomon Islands. During the night of 2 – 3 May 1944, off the coast of Bougainville Island, Lieutenant Commander Bonte led his division into an engagement with numerically superior enemy armed barges. His division made six daring and persistent running attacks on the enemy vessels in the face of intense enemy machine gun and shore battery fire. Lieutenant Commander Bonte displayed aggressive and heroic leadership which resulted in one enemy barge being probably sunk and two damaged. Again on the night of 5 – 6 May 1944, Lieutenant Commander Bonte ordered his division to the assistance of a boat which had been disabled and set afire by enemy action. In spite of continued enemy shore battery fire, intense flames, and exploding ammunition, he, and two companions under his leadership, rowed a rubber raft close aboard the stricken vessel with utter disregard to their own personal safety, to search for survivors. Lieutenant Commander Bonte’s courageous conduct on these two occasions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.