The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Lewis Levi Snider (NSN: 0-72522), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as the Executive Officer aboard a United States Destroyer in the engagement with Japanese naval forces off Kula Gulf, British Solomon Islands, on the night of 5 and 6 July 1943. Lieutenant Commander Snider, as Navigator and Control Information Center Evaluator supplied gun control and torpedo control with such complete and accurate information that it resulted in the destruction of three enemy destroyers and one light cruiser and the damaging of an enemy destroyer. His expert and timely advice kept the Commanding Officer informed of the location of both enemy and our own forces thereby being responsible for keeping the ship in a position to attack the enemy. In addition, as Executive Officer, he directed the rescue of nearly three hundred survivors of a torpedoed cruiser while his ship was being subjected to repeated attacks by the enemy cruiser and two destroyers. His courageous conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.