The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Peter Harry Horn (NSN: 0-63303), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. MONAGHAN (DD-354), in action against enemy Japanese forces off the Komandorski Islands, on 26 March 1945. During an engagement which continued without respite for three hours and a half with an enemy of far superior strength, Lieutenant Commander Horn, with keen judgment and expert seamanship, played a vital part in the action of our task group. Skillfully maneuvering his ship to avoid enemy 8-inch salvos which fell close to her, he was able to lay protecting smoke screens around a cruiser that was in serious difficulty and to assist in driving off hostile ships with relentless gunfire or with threat of torpedo attacks. By his exemplary conduct and steadfast devotion to duty he rendered invaluable aid in turning back the Japanese force, thereby thwarting a desperate attempt to deliver urgently needed supplies to enemy troops in the Aleutian Islands. 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.