The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Harry B. Anderson (MCSN: 0-7387), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Executive Officer of a Light Anti-Aircraft Weapons Group of the Third Defense Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Bougainville, Solomon Islands, from 10 to 20 November 1943. Upon being assigned the mission of coordinating the fire of his group with that of the heavy anti-aircraft group and the illumination of the searchlight battery, Captain Anderson voluntarily climbed a tree to a dangerous, exposed position and personally directed the fire of the light and heavy anti-aircraft weapons and searchlight illumination throughout sixty-two actual enemy bombing runs, of which thirty-six were repulsed by his personal fire direction. By his outstanding leadership, determination and untiring devotion to duty throughout, he upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.