The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private Ward V. Nickell (MCSN: 449981), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company C, First Battalion, Second Marines, SECOND Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, from 20 to 22 November 1943. With his company pinned down by shattering machine-gun and rifle fire from a Japanese blockhouse inland from the beach during fierce hostilities on D-Day, Private Nickell immediately seized his demolition kit and boldly advanced to a shell hole within fifteen yards from the enemy. Charging forward on four separate occasions, he launched his aggressive attacks from the entrance of the emplacement, relentlessly hurling his demolition charges until the strong point was put out of action. When an observation plane flew over later that same day and dropped a message bag containing photographs of the island between our line and the Japanese, he voluntarily braved concentrated hostile shellfire to retrieve the vital information from an area perilously near heavily fortified enemy positions. By his daring initiative, countless perseverance and courageous action at great personal risk, Private Nickell contributed materially to the success of our forces in capturing this vital hostile stronghold and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.