The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Ensign Gene M. Benedetti (NSN: 282637), United States Naval Reserve, for gallantry and intrepidity in action as Officer in Charge of a landing craft tank which was part of the spearhead of the attack on the beaches of France, on 6 June 1944. Ensign Benedetti pressed home his attack relentlessly in his craft which had been substituted for a non-operational craft just before the sortie. About two thousand yards off the beach, the rudder cable broke and the craft could only proceed on its engines. With admirable skill he righted his craft, headed for the beach and landed under heavy enemy fire which killed two men trying to overturn the ramp extension so that the tanks could disembark. Ensign Benedetti with complete disregard for his own safety and with inspiring leadership led the party of men who replaced those who had been killed and succeeded in getting the ramp extensions in place. He then succeeded in retracting his craft with ramp down, the ramp engine being on fire, and without kedge anchor under heavy enemy gunfire. The coolness and leadership displayed by Ensign Benedetti on this occasion were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.