The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class James E. Earheart, Jr. (MCSN: 345290), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a member of a United States Navy anti-sabotage party aboard H.M.S. HARTLAND during entry into the port of Oran, Algeria, on 8 November 1942. After crashing boom defenses and facing heavy gunfire from hostile shore emplacements and anchored warships, the Hartland secured a throw line to a harbor tug to provide escape for wounded personnel and non-swimmers during abandonment of the damaged vessel. When the tug began to move and the lives of the men on the line were jeopardized by an imminent break, Private First Class Earheart, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, volunteered to swim out and halt the boat. Unhesitatingly leaving the ship while it was still under vigorous shelling, he exposed himself to a riddling blast of machine-gun fire and was instantly killed. His heroic conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.