Ralph J. Garner

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Ralph J. Garner, Coxswain, U.S. Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a member of the Armed Guard on board a merchant vessel during an enemy aerial attack. Following the explosion of a bomb which struck the No. 6 hatch and started fires in all sections of the hold, Coxswain Garner manned a machine gun and maintained constant fire on the enemy bomber during the attack. Tracer bullets were seen to enter the fuselage of the low-flying bomber, which dropped, swerved, and was driven off, and later, when beached, was discovered to contain 1,200 rounds of ammunition and a crew of seven dead aviators.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 309 (December 1942)