The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Field Artillery) Merrill G. Hatch (ASN: 0-377093), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 14 January 1943, at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. When infantry troops withdrew from a field of heavy enemy fire, Captain Hatch two other men remained forward of the lines to direct artillery fire upon the positions of the enemy that had caused the withdrawal. Because of restricted observation in the dense jungle terrain, Captain Hatch and his companions remained 150 yards ahead of the lines. Despite the danger of attack if the enemy had learned of the withdrawal, in spite of the intense fire which indicated preparation for an enemy attack, and the danger from the close fire of his own guns which they were directing, he and his detail remained at their post directing artillery fire until the enemy emplacement was neutralized and the subsequent infantry attack became a success.