Walter L. Palmer

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Walter L. Palmer, Seaman First Class, U.S. Coast Guard (Reserve), for conspicuous gallantry in action on 26 January 1944, while attached to the U.S.S. LST 16 during the amphibious invasion of Anzio, Italy. During a full gale with extreme heavy seas, Seaman First Class Palmer volunteered as a member of boat crew that went to the rescue of personnel trapped below decks of the blazing H.M.S. LST 422. His expert seamanship brought the craft through a heavily mined area and despite the fact that the H.M.S. LST 422 was pitching and rolling in a dangerous manner and ammunition was constantly exploding he succeeded in bringing his craft alongside and effecting the rescue of a soldier trapped in lower compartment of the ship without means of escape by removing him though a hole in the side of the ship and bringing him safely to the U.S.S. LST 16.