The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant James Raymond Swanbeck, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action with the enemy. During the FIFTH, SIXTH and SEVENTH War Patrols of the U.S.S. GATO (SS-212), in enemy controlled waters from 19 March 1943 to 10 January 1944, he contributed greatly to the success of his ship in accomplishing a number of important and hazardous missions which contributed greatly to the success of Allied operations. On one occasion he volunteered to take a rubber boat through a treacherous surf to a poorly charted enemy-held coast, in order to rescue a group of Allied aviators. Although he was warned that his discovery by the enemy would necessitate the submarine’s departure without him, he carried out the task with daring skill and expert seamanship, rescuing several aviators and an Allied coast watcher from imminent capture by the enemy. On the night of 20 December 1943, when an unexploded enemy depth charge was found on the deck of his vessel, he volunteered to dispose of it, well knowing that it might explode at any time either through delayed action or by the enemy gunfire which was currently directed at his ship. With the aid of another officer he succeeded in launching this depth charge in a leaky rubber boat, directly in the path of the pursuing enemy vessels. His actions throughout these War Patrols were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.