The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant John W. Detwiler, United States Navy, for gallantry in action as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. LCI (L) 220 during the amphibious assault on Sicily in July 1943. When an enemy shell-burst made it impossible to retract the vessel from the uncharted sand bar on which she was grounded, he skillfully ran his craft across the sand bar and in the face of persistent shellfire and dive-bombing attacks, landed the embarked troops on the assigned beach. 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.