The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Raymond F. Bourne (MCSN: 0-29972), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Fighting Squadron THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO (VMF-322) in action against enemy Japanese forces north of Okinawa on the morning of 28 May 1945. After the U.S.S. DREXLER was hit by a hostile suicide plane and lay dead in the water with greatly reduced fire power, First Lieutenant Bourne courageously attacked another suicide aircraft as it made its dive on the crippled vessel and, following on the tail of the attacking craft, braved heavy gunfire from the Drexler to force the enemy plane from its course. During a second dive by the hostile suicide craft, he again pressed a determined attack and continued on the tail of the attacking plane until his own plane was hit by the ship’s gunfire, forcing his retirement. By his airmanship, fortitude and aggressive spirit, First Lieutenant Bourne upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.