The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Pearson Buckley Yeager (ASN: 0-338837), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, in January 1943. On 18 January, First Lieutenant Yeager located and charged an enemy machine gun nest, killing one of the crew by fire from his submachine gun and causing the rest to flee. By this action he saved the patrol he was leading from probable ambush and aided in the killing of six enemy soldiers and the capture of one prisoner. On 19 January, he led a patrol of 25 men further along the same trail into an enemy bivouac area. First Lieutenant Yeager reconnoitered for and organized the surprise attack against the bivouac, and during the attack, aided in the destruction of one mountain gun of around 70-mm. and one automatic rifle, and numerous small arms, the killing of six enemy soldiers, and the capture of valuable maps and papers. On 21 and 22 January, First Lieutenant Yeager led another patrol of 34 men almost two miles along the trail followed the previous day, over extremely difficult terrain, to the peak of a mountain. First Lieutenant Yeager or his assistant, in turn, led the way at all times, always moving into any dangerous area first and protecting the advance of the patrol. Often catching the enemy by surprise, the patrol killed a total of 21 enemy and destroyed many smaller caliber weapons, in addition to gaining valuable information. 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 Army.