The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Temple T. Thornton, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a Medical Corpsman on board the Heavy Cruiser U.S.S. SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38), in the action against Japanese naval forces in the Solomon Islands area on the night of 12 – 13 November 1942. Despite a bad scalp wound, Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Thornton gallantry worked unaided in the face of heavy enemy shelling, and organized a secondary dressing station where first aid and surgical treatment were administered to the wounded. Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Thornton’s gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.