The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Stetson S. Holmes (MCSN: 0-9648), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Executive Officer of Company G, Second Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division during action against enemy Japanese forces during jungle assault attacks in the Battle of Piva Forks, Bougainville, Solomon Islands on 24 November 1943. Instinctively realizing that the section of the command group of which he was in immediate charge must move forward in order that the integration and integrity of the company command be maintained, Captain Holmes courageously braved intense enemy artillery and mortar fire to regroup his men and personally lead them forward to his Company Commander thereby maintaining the essential lines of communication and the attack formation. As soon as the company was reformed at considerably reduced strength, he gallantly led segments of the command forward in the face of heavy rifle and machine gun fire and destroyed every position attacked. His fearless and aggressive fighting spirit served as an inspiration to his men and reflects the highest credit upon Captain Holmes and the United States Naval Service.