The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Bernard Duncan (MCSN: 516401), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving in a Platoon of Company F, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 2 and 11 May 1945. After his Platoon Leader and Sergeant had been killed and his platoon pinned down and disorganized, Corporal Duncan exposed himself to intense enemy fire to assume command and effect the reorganization of the remaining Marines. Subsequently finding advancement impossible, he made his way to the Company Command Post to report the situation and, when ordered to withdraw, returned to his platoon where he supervised and aided in the evacuation of the wounded before skillfully moving his platoon to a more easily defended position without further losses. While serving as a Squad Leader on another occasion, Corporal Duncan volunteered to lead the patrol assigned to establish contact with a unit on the flank of his company and, despite wounds received from heavy hostile mortar and machine-gun fire, continued directing his patrol until contact was established and the mission completed. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.