The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Raymond F. Scherer (MCSN: 0-20291), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Fighter Squadron THREE HUNDRED ELEVEN (VMF-311), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Ryukyu Islands, on 13 May 1945. When four enemy aircraft launched a determined attack on a group of our Naval vessels during a combat air patrol, Captain Scherer led his section in action against the hostile craft and, flying through the ships’ intense antiaircraft fire, prevented one plane from executing a suicide dive on a destroyer and shot it down in flames. His skillful airmanship, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.