The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander J. C. Gillespie Wilson, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. CHARLES F. HUGHES while operating in the outer beachhead screen during the amphibious invasion of Southern France on the night of 21 August 1944. Lieutenant Commander Wilson, displaying outstanding skill and aggressiveness, led his ship into action against three enemy E-boats attempting to penetrate the beachhead screen and inflict damage on valuable shipping lying off the beaches discharging urgent cargo in support of the Allied Armies. In the ensuing engagement he fought his ship with conspicuous gallantry and as a result sank one E-boat, damaged a second so badly that it was run aground and abandoned, while the third fled into shallow waters. He then carefully followed the movements of the third enemy craft, and when it tried to escape, pursued it relentlessly until it was run ashore, abandoned by its crew, and later destroyed by gunfire. These decisive operations, fearlessly executed, prevented probable disruption of unloading operations and damage to shipping in the transport anchorages. The aggressive leadership, intrepidity in action, and outstanding devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Commander Wilson were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.