The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Ralph Emerson Boucher, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in the line of his profession while serving with the Armed Guard of the S.S. NICHOLAS GILMAN in 1943. As Commanding Officer of an Armed Guard crew, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Boucher and his men fought off swarms of German planes which swept down out of the clouds or out of the sun, with engines silent. One plane was sent hurtling into the sea en route, and a second was set afire and crashed while the vessel was being unloaded. He and his valiant crew never relaxed their vigil until their ship, ice-bound, beaten by terrific winds, and menaced by gigantic icebergs, finally reached home port. 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.