The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Harry H. W. Niehoff (MCSN: 283854), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company A, First Battalion, Eighteenth Marines (Engineer), SECOND Marine Division, during action against Japanese forces at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, on 22 November 1943. With his platoon pinned down for a fifty-hour period by shattering fire from a heavily fortified hostile pillbox during a bitter engagement either the fanatic Japanese, Corporal Niehoff boldly pressed forward with his unit in a relentless determined attack and, assisted in destroying the strong point with well-placed demolition charges. Volunteering for an extremely dangerous mission in a later action, he fearlessly carried demolitions and supplies through concentrated shellfire to flame throwers operation deep in hostile territory. By his daring initiative, dauntless perseverance and cool courage in the face of grave peril, Corporal Niehoff contributed materially to the success of our forces in capturing this strategic island, and his zealous devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.