The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Richard B. Watkins (MCSN: 0-25247), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company E, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands from 7 May to 15 June 1945. Assuming command of a rifle company when wounds necessitated the evacuation of the previous commander, First Lieutenant Watkins ably led the unit and, by his inspiring courage and tactical skill, contributed materially to the repeated and continuous success of his company. On one occasion, he crawled to a position exposed to deadly enemy fire in order to remove to a place of safety a platoon leader who had been critically wounded and, on another occasion skillfully guided his men in a successful night assault and in maintaining the newly occupied position which isolated from all adjacent units and subjected to devastating enemy small arms and mortar fire. His fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.