The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Coxswain Clarence P. Beacom, United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against the enemy. During the initial landing 27 October 1943, of the U.S. and New Zealand force on Mono Island, Treasury Group, Solomon Islands, Coxswain Beacom made the supreme sacrifice for his country in performance of duty. He did this knowing the danger involved and with utter disregard for his own personal safety. Coxswain Beacom was a member of a beach party whose duty it was to land with the assault troops and set up colored markers on the beach thereby indicating the limits of the beachhead to the various landing craft. All men were instructed to remain behind the assault troops until they established a perimeter of defense large enough to cover them while setting up the beach markers. The assault troops met with enemy resistance and had only advanced along the beach a short distance when the convoy of landing craft were sighted entering the harbor. Coxswain Beacom and his comrades knew that they could not accomplish their mission before the landing of the ships by remaining under the protection of the troops, and also must have realized that they were exposing themselves to danger by advancing down the beach ahead of the troops. Yet, with utter disregard for their on safety they, they reached their objective and were instantly killed by enemy machine gun fire. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.