The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Louis P. Tuttle (MCSN: 317072), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with a detachment of Marine Observation Squadron TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE (VMO-251), against enemy Japanese forces on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on October 14, 1942. While his airfield was under shell fire by the enemy and raid expected at any moment, Corporal Tuttle, realizing several fighter planes had not been prepared for flight, entered the shelled area and started one of the aircraft and taxied it to the take-off spot in time for a pilot to man the ship and meet an incoming wave of Japanese bombers. His skill, initiative, and heroic devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.