The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class Herbert Nickell, United States Navy, for gallantry in action while serving as a Medical Corpsman attached to the FIRST Marine Division on Cape Gloucester, New Britain, on 26 December 1943. Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class Herbert Nickell and Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class Frank Witz worked their way forward through dense jungle undergrowth to treat six wounded comrades. Then, crawling ahead to within 15 feet of a Japanese emplacement, they daringly rescued a critically injured man in the face of intense enemy fire. 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.