Miles Hopkins Imlay

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Miles Hopkins Imlay, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, for conspicuous gallantry as Deputy Commander of an Assault Group participating in the initial invasion on the coast of France, on 6 June 1944. Undaunted by heavy enemy fire, Captain Imlay courageously took station close to the shore on the early morning of D-Day and, throughout the most bitter period of the fighting, coolly and promptly made spot decisions on the reorganization, grouping and dispatching of craft to the beach, subsequently relieving the Task Group Commander of his duties when he withdrew his transport from the assault area. Immediately thereafter, he was placed in charge of operations afloat as assistant to the Naval Officer in Charge of one of the beaches and, discharging the duties of this responsibility with distinctive professional ability, contributed essentially to the rapid clearing of the backlog of ships.