The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Homer H. Skipper (MCSN: 242064), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in combat against enemy Japanese forces at the mouth of the Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 27 September 1942. Upon seeing men stranded on the opposite bank of the river, and unable to withdraw due to his wounds, Sergeant Skipper, at great personal risk of his life, unhesitatingly swam across the river, continually swept by heavy Japanese machine-gun fire, and, with the help of his platoon leader brought the wounded man safely back. His great courage was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.