The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Timothy B. Howard, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as an AH-IT (TOW) Cobra Attack Helicopter Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-261), Twenty-Second Marine Amphibious Unit, conducting combat operations on the Island of Grenada in support of Operation URGENT FURY, on 25 October 1983. While conducting an armed reconnaissance mission in support of ground forces, Captain Howard and his copilot were forced down behind enemy lines after their aircraft was hit by multiple anti-aircraft artillery projectiles. Faced with certain capture or death, having sustained critical injuries, and realizing that enemy soldiers were in sight and would arrive soon, Captain Howard, without regard for his own personal safety, provided his only means of defense, a personal sidearm, to his copilot and directed him to escape to friendly lines. As the heavily armed enemy force continued to advance, Captain Howard attempted to divert their attention to provide an opportunity for his co-pilot to escape. In the face of death, Captain Howard was willing to sacrifice his own chance of survival so that his fellow Marine might have a chance to live. By his daring actions, unselfish demeanor, and loyal devotion to duty in the face of personal risk, Captain Howard reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.