The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Ralph Stephens (MCSN: 339024), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the Second Marine Raider Battalion during an attack along the Numa Numa-Piva trail, Bougainville Island, British Solomon Islands, on 8 November 1943. Although painfully wounded in the shoulder, arm and leg by an exploding Japanese mortar shell while leading his squad in a fire fight against withering enemy opposition, Corporal Stephens administered effective first aid to five injured comrades and then, despite heavy hostile machine-gun and rifle fire, carried a badly wounded hospital corpsman to a place of safety. His brilliant leadership and outstanding devotion to duty in the face of grave peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.