The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private Donald J. Slocum (MCSN: 316879), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while a member of the First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 29 August 1942. When fires were started in the Regimental munitions dump, Private Slocum unhesitatingly and with utter disregard of flying shell fragments from exploding ammunition, approached dangerously close to assist in fighting and controlling the fires. His courageous action in a critical situation was instrumental in reducing to a minimum the damage inflicted by the enemy, and in saving much valuable equipment and badly needed ammunition.