The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Benjamin S. Read (MCSN: 0-19550), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as an Artillery Forward Observer of Battery G, Third Battalion, Twelfth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Bougainville, Solomon Islands, 7 November 1943. Unable to locate the impact of the artillery shells while registering the fire of our artillery in the enemy’s defensive area, Second Lieutenant Read advanced beyond the front lines of the assault troops to a point almost within the hostile emplacements and, although continuously subjected to enemy fire, completed the artillery fire registration and conducted the firing of a barrage in preparation for the attack. Subsequently directing the artillery in delivering fire, he contributed directly to the success of his men in preventing the Japanese from turning the left flank of our advancing assault troops. His courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Second Lieutenant Read and the United States Naval Service.