The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Verbon C. Sanders (MCSN: 344315), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while a member of the Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during action against a Japanese landing force of about 700 men which launched an attack at the mouth of the Tenaru River, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on the early morning of August 21, 1942. With cool courage and utter disregard for his own personal safety, Private First Class Sanders held his dangerously exposed position against an overwhelmingly superior number of attacking Japanese. Even though severely wounded, he maintained stubborn resistance until he was killed by the onrushing enemy force. He gallantly gave his life for his country.