The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private Hurshall W. Hooker (MCSN: 347472), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while a member of the First Battalion, Second Marines, Reinforced during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area on the early morning of 4 November 1942. While rising in his foxhole to adjust his poncho, Private Hooker observed and upraised bayonet in the left hand of Japanese poised for a downward thrust into the body of a Marine who while asleep in his slit trench had previously received a foot wound from the same enemy. Unarmed and unmindful of another rifle armed Japanese nearby he sprang for the descending bayonet, grasped the blade tightly in his bare hands and with a sharp twist wrenched the weapon free, at the same time sending his antagonist sprawling to the ground with a jolting knee action. With the bayonet which he was still clutching painfully by the blade, he dealt the enemy a powerful blow in the face, momentarily stunning him until he could be shot and killed. Undeterred by the ominous presence of the second Japanese, who had fired at him and missed, Private Hooker, with all five fingers of his bright hand badly cut at the second joint, gamely persisted until he had saved the life of his imperiled comrade.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Private Hurshall W. Hooker (MCSN: 347472), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity during action against enemy Japanese forces on Orrabusu, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, while serving with the First Battalion, Second Marines (Reinforced), SECOND Marine Division, on 10 October 1942. When his unit encountered numerous hostile snipers, Private Hooker, by repeatedly loading his rifle behind a tree and then stepping out in the open to fire at his target, succeeded in killing five of the Japanese. Later, he rushed a small shack and, holding a hand grenade for four seconds after the striker had fallen before throwing it, he killed two more Japanese. By his bold initiative and courageous devotion to duty he contributed in a large measure to the success of his mission and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.