The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Walter Haynes Christenson (MCSN: 255389), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Headquarters and Service Company, Second Tank Battalion, SECOND Marine Division during action against enemy Japanese forces at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, on 20 November 1943. When the lane of channel markers laid by his party over a 1,200 yard shell and bomb pocked reef were swept away during landing operations on D-Day his daring initiative, dauntless perseverance and self-sacrificing devotion to the completion of an extremely perilous mission, Sergeant Christenson contributed materially to the success of our operations against this vital hostile stronghold and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.