Gene R. Gislason

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Gene R. Gislason, Lieutenant, U.S. Coast Guard (Reserve), for outstanding heroism as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. LCI (L) 94, while landing assault troops in Normandy on 6 June 1944. Lieutenant Gislason successfully directed his ship through numerous beach obstacles to the proper beach, discharged his troops and retracted while his ship was seriously damaged from heavy enemy fire. Ship’s communications, engine telegraph and electric steering were disabled by direct hits on the pilothouse which killed three crewmen, and one screw and shaft were rendered inoperative by beach obstacles. By his coolness under fire and excellent seamanship, Lieutenant Gislason overcame these difficulties and brought his ship off the beach on hand steering and one screw. He later supervised repairs and in four hours enabled the LCI (L) to remain operative in the assault area for three weeks.