The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant (Infantry), [then Sergeant] Federico Tamayo, United States Army, for gallantry in action in the vicinity of Dalirig and Maluko, Bukidnen, Mindanao, Philippine Islands, on 9 May 1942, while G-3 Clerk, Visayan-Mindanao Force. With utter disregard of danger and while under heavy artillery and machine gun fire, Lieutenant Tamayo accompanied Lieutenant Colonel W. L. Robinson on his visit to the front lines near Dalirig. He assisted in rallying the badly disorganized troops and in establishing control which prevented a total rout. Later that night he aided in supervising the withdrawal and occupation of the last line of resistance to Japanese advance near Maluko which held through the night and prevented the enemy from making a further advance.