The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Pharmacist’s Mate First Class Griffin H. Kerper, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a Medical Corpsman attached to the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, in action at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on the night of 13 – 14 September 1942. On that date, during the attack on the Guadalcanal Airport, Corpsman Kerper exposed himself to hostile machine-gun, rifle, and grenade fire in order to render aid to wounded Marines. His gallant actions and selfless devotion to duty, without regard for his own safety, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.