The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant Eugene M. Dennis (MCSN: 0-32297), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in aerial flight as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Fighting Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWELVE (VMF-112), during action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 14 April 1945. Although having been shot down the previous day, Second Lieutenant Dennis volunteered to fly a mission over enemy territory and, when Japanese planes were sighted, engaged and destroyed three enemy planes in three minutes. His superb airmanship and courageous devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.