The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Owen C. Ross (MCSN: 0-4715), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as pilot of a Naval transport plane attached to Marine Aircraft Group Twenty-five, operating in the Solomon Islands Area on 14 – 15 September 1942. Arriving at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, late in the afternoon with a cargo of emergency supplies, Major Ross remained at his post, supervising the loading of the wounded during a bombing and strafing attack by Japanese dive bombers and fighters. Later, although his plane had no defensive armament and enemy combatant aircraft were known to be in the vicinity, he skillfully took his over-loaded plane off the field in the darkness and evacuated fourteen wounded to safety. His superb airmanship and fearless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.