The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant, Junior Grade [then Ensign] James Gardner Townsley (NSN: 0-390068), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Machine Gun Control Officer aboard the U.S.S. LAFFEY (DD-459), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Okinawa Area on 16 April 1945. When his ship was under repeated enemy air attacks from several directions, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Townsley skillfully located the targets for the machine guns and contributed materially to the destruction of four enemy planes. Directing fire from his unprotected station, he inspired his men to keep shooting to the last, although direct suicidal crashes looked inevitable on several occasions. By his cool courage under fire and devotion to duty, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Townsley contributed materially toward saving his ship from probable destruction and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.