The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Richard H. Allan, Jr. (MCSN: 0-13345), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Commanding Officer of Company C, First Marine Parachute Battalion, in action against enemy Japanese forces near Koi-ari, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, on 29 November 1945. While his company was engaged in fierce and bitter fighting with the numerically superior enemy, Captain Allan courageously advanced forward of his front lines, directly into the fire land of a hostile machine gun, and removed several of his wounded men to a safer area. Throughout the extremely hazardous fourteen hours of ceaseless combat, his personal valor was an inspiration to the men under his command and contributed materially to the successful conclusion of the action. Captain Allan’s splendid initiative and unselfish devotion to duty, maintained in the face of grave peril, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.