The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Harold D. Shields (MCSN: 0-26577), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE (VMF-123), attached to the U.S.S. BENNINGTON (CV-20), in action against enemy Japanese in the vicinity of the Kure Naval Base, Southwest Honshu, Japan, on 19 March 1945. Penetrating a strongly-defended enemy sector, First Lieutenant Shields braved overwhelming opposition to assist his group in destroying nine airborne enemy aircraft and damaging seven more. When his formation was intercepted by numerically superior hostile planes, he unhesitatingly maneuvered to attack and destroy one of the Japanese aircraft and then flew through intense antiaircraft fire to protect his comrades and fight off enemy forces even after his own plane was severely damaged, thereby contributing materially to the safe return of thirteen of the fifteen planes, eleven of which were badly damaged. His outstanding airmanship and devotion to duty in the face of grave danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.