The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Milton S. Bellamy (MCSN: 468649), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as an Automatic Rifleman serving with Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-First Marines, THIRD Marine Division during action against enemy Japanese forces on Bougainville, Solomon Islands, 13 and 14 November 1943. When his squad suffered heavy casualties during an advance against a strong Japanese entrenchment, Private First Class Bellamy courageously exposed himself to the intense machine gun and rifle fire in order to cover the evacuation of casualties from between the lines and, when the hazardous task was completed, gallantly engaged the enemy in a bitter fire fight for more than five hours. Severely wounded the following night while occupying an outpost with two other Marines, he refrained from making an outcry which might have disclosed their position and deliberately suffered in silence until daybreak. By his courageous initiative, daring aggressiveness and great personal valor in voluntarily risking his life for others, Private First Class Bellamy contributed to the saving of many of his comrades who otherwise might have perished. His extremely heroic action in the face of grave peril was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.