The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander Alston Ramsay (NSN: 0-61510), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. FOOTE (DD-511), during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area from 31 October to 2 November 1943. Under heavy fire from hostile shore batteries, Commander Ramsay fought his ship with superb skill in the initial bombardment of Buka-Bonis and the first daylight shelling of the Shortland Area. In a subsequent engagement with a Japanese force of superior fire power, Task Force THIRTY-NINE, of which the FOOTE was a unit, succeeded in sinking five enemy warships and damaging four. Although his ship was struck by a torpedo and disabled during the course of the battle, Commander Ramsay, by his calm determination and expert seamanship, kept her afloat and brought her back to port, saved to fight again in the service of her country. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.