Silver Star, to / Capt. Fe lon Durand eee ae Admiral Nimitz Pins Medal on Junction Citian for Gallantry in Action at Tarawa. Capt. Fenlon A. Durand, U. 8. Marine Corps, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Durand, 335 West Chestnut street, has been awarded the Silver Star medal for gallantry and in- trepidity in action against the en- emy in the bitter fighting at Ta- rawa in the Gilbert Islands, ac- cording to word received by his} parents. The award was presented to him |} by Admiral Nimitz at an undis- closed point in the Pacific an| March 1. Many other awards for | the action at ‘Tarawa were present- ed at the same time. The citation accompanying the award stated: “For conspicuous gallantry and | intrepidity during action against geomy Japanese forces in Tarawa, | Gilbert Islands, November 20, 1943, | while serving with the Secondf Am- | phibian Tractor Battalion, Second Marine Division. While leading his company of amphibian tractors during the initial assault on this island, Captain Durand’s command tractor was unmobilized and Set afire one hundred yards from the beach ‘by enemy shell fire. “Taking command of the infan- try troops in his tractors, he caus- ed them to abandon the tractor and disperse in the shallow water shortly before two more enemy shells completely demolished the. tractor. In the water he found his crew chief who had been blown out of the tractor and was suffer- ing from Numerous __ shrapnel wounds and the loss of both legs. “Although subjected to concen- trated enemy. sniper. and machine gun fire, Captain Durand impro- vised tourniquets and rendered first aid to his crew chief. Thea, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, he supported the wounded marine in the water and swam with him for more than an hour in an effort to save his crew chief's life., His gallant courage and heroic ‘conduct were in keep- ing with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps.”