The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal George L. Dumont (MCSN: 288233), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion, SECOND Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, on 20 November 1943. Wounded in the left arm and side and his amphibian tractor crew either killed or wounded during the initial landing operations on D-Day, Corporal Dumont steadfastly refused to leave the vehicle and, braving the enemy’s incessant shellfire, took over the operations of the tractor and continued to disembark troops and vitally needed ammunition on the heavily-fortified beachhead and to evacuate casualties from the danger area during the first few hours of the fierce hostilities. Subsequently forced to evacuate the area for medical treatment, Corporal Dumont, by his daring initiative, outstanding fortitude and cool courage in the face of grave peril, had contributed materially to the success of the initial stages of the battle and his unwavering devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.