The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Donald L. Ewers (MCSN: 485997), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the First Marine Raider Regiment as a machine gunner on the outpost line of resistance around Bougainville beachhead, Solomon Islands, 9 December 1943. While Private First Class Ewers and two other marines were operating a machine gun during a crucial period of the action, an enemy hand grenade exploded within the emplacement, killed his two comrades and demolished the gun tripod. In order to maintain uninterrupted resistance, Private First Class Ewers picked up the weapon and, although it was necessary to expose himself, kept up a vigorous stream of fire from his hip. Despite painful burns on both hands, he held out with grim determination until an adjacent platoon was able to reorganize its position at great personal risk in the face of grave danger, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.