The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel Presley M. Rixey (MCSN: 0-4044), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the First Battalion, Tenth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, and as Artillery Officer for the Commander of the Assault Forces, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, from 20 to 24 November 1943. Landing on the heavily fortified beachhead during the initial stages of the assault on D-Day, Lieutenant Colonel Rixey bravely faced the enemy’s concentrated, fierce barrages to direct the landing and ultimate employment of his Battalion. Working tirelessly to complete the disembarkation of guns under cover of darkness that night while the area was still being swept by hostile fire, he had all units under his command ready for delivering devastating, effective fire against the Japanese the following morning and, directed the artillery barrage which enabled oncoming infantry to press forward through almost impassable defenses. By his brilliant and forceful leadership, his daring combat tactics and cool and courageous action in the face of extreme peril, Lieutenant Colonel Rixey contributed to the success of our sustained drive against a fanatic enemy in the Pacific War Area, and his zealous devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.