The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Robert Stewart Nelson, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while participating in aerial flights in the vicinity of the Marianas Group, 20 and 21 June 1944. He located a large enemy naval force and his subsequent accurate appraisal and reporting of this force’s position, composition, and movement enabled our forces to deliver an immediate air strike which was devastating to the enemy and completely removed the menace of this naval force from our operations in the Marianas. On the following nights he was again launched with the same mission, and despite darkness and the long separating distance he again searched out the enemy force and made accurate reports of their position and movement. He remained on station long past daybreak, despite the added hazard from enemy aircraft and anti-aircraft fire, in order to accurately report the composition of the enemy force so that assessment could be made of the damage inflicted on the enemy in the attack of the previous evening. His courage, determination, skill, and mature judgment in the execution of these missions were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.