The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Edward C. Thompson, Jr., United States Coast Guard, for conspicuous gallantry as Captain of the U.S.S. PC-545 in action against enemy forces during the assault on the Island of Sicily, on 10 July 1943. Although forced to maintain fire silence in order to support a surprise attack, he kept his patrol craft at a hazardous anchorage 3,000 yards off shore and continued to provide vital signals to direct the landing craft, despite constant exposure to hostile searchlights and imminent danger of enemy fire. His devotion to duty contributed materially to the success of our assault forces.