The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Claude O. Neugent (MCSN: 0-18693), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Assistant Regimental Intelligence Officer attached to the First Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in the landing at Cape Torokina, Bougainville Island, on November 1, 1943. Completely disregarding his own personal safety, Second Lieutenant Neugent skillfully carried out an extremely dangerous reconnaissance assignment in the rear of the Japanese lines, discovering their positions, routes of escape and ammunition dumps, and subsequently made his hazardous way back to the Second Command Post to report on the invaluable information he had gathered. Later volunteering to execute several highly important missions under intense fire, he courageously led various units into position, located groups of the enemy and guided attacks against them. Second Lieutenant Neugent’s splendid initiative and valiant devotion to duty throughout this period of vital offensive operations were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.