The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant James F. McClanahan (MCSN: 0-10989), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commanding Officer of the First Platoon, Battery B, First Special Weapons Battalion, FIRST Marine Division, during an attack by enemy Japanese forces at the mouth of the Tenaru River, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on the night of August 20-21, 1942. Battling fiercely to hold his line which had been penetrated in several places by the Japanese, Second Lieutenant McClanahan directed and controlled the fire of his men with such heroic skill and leadership that the enemy were dispersed and our lines reestablished. Although painfully wounded during the latter part of the engagement, he refused to be evacuated. His great personal valor and utter disregard for his own personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.