The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant John R. Waters (MCSN: 262510), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while a member of the First Marines, FIRST Marine Division during action against enemy Japanese forces at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on 29 August 1942. When fires were started in the regimental munitions dump, Sergeant Waters, unhesitatingly and on his own initiative, risked his life in the midst of flying shell fragments from exploding ammunition to assist in fighting and controlling fires until shell wounds necessitated his evacuation. His courageous action in a critical situation was instrumental in reducing to a minimum the damage inflicted by the enemy and in saving much valuable equipment and badly needed ammunition.