The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant Sherman Barington Ruth (MCSN: 0-24360), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Acting Commanding Officer of Company G, Third Battalion, Twenty-ninth Marines, SIXTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 15 May 1945. Assuming command of his company when the commanding officer became a casualty during a furious daylight attack on heavily defended hostile position, First Lieutenant Ruth quickly reorganized his gallant men to launch a vicious assault on the assigned target, continuing to direct fire upon his stubborn opponents until the objective was captured with a minimum of losses to our troops. Despite the enemy’s frequent attempts to regain this stronghold, he persisted in encouraging his men to maintain their defense, personally moving along the line in the face of grave hazards and thereby inspiring his company to repel all counterattacks and to annihilate a hundred of the Japanese. His gallant leadership, courage and unfaltering devotion to duty throughout reflect the highest credit upon First Lieutenant Ruth and the United States Naval Service.