The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant Gordon R. McCulloch (MCSN: 0-11134), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while a member of Company E, Second Battalion, Second Marines, Reinforced, during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands on 10 November 1942. While directing the fire of his mortar section, Second Lieutenant McCulloch exposed himself to heavy machine gun shelling at the front lines. When several of his men were killed or injured during the course of the action, he risked his life in an attempt to rescue them. His courageous initiative and heroic devotion to duty, maintained with utter disregard for his own personal safety, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.