The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Warrant Officer J. B. Powell (MCSN: 0-14981), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as communications officer attached to the Second Battalion, Twenty-first Marines, THIRD Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Battle of Coconut Grove on Bougainville, Solomon Islands on 14 November 1943. Responsible for the establishment of communications among all companies of his battalion as the advanced to attack, Warrant Officer Powell frequently exposed himself to fierce enemy machine gun, sniper and grenade fire while directing his platoon in laying and maintaining telephone lines between our attacking units. Accompanied by two Marines he assaulted and destroyed a Japanese gun emplacement at one time during the action and subsequently leading them in the evacuation of a wounded Marine lying exposed in hostile territory. Later detecting a second Japanese machine gun beyond our lines he reported its location to the commander of a tank thereby enabling our forces to destroy the weapon. By his inspiring leadership, aggressive determination and cool courage under fire, Warrant Officer Powell encouraged his gallant men in the speedy accomplishment of their mission and his unfaltering devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.