The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Lyman D. Spurlock (MCSN: 0-6222), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of a company in the Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on August 18-19, 1942. When his company was assigned the task of capturing Matanikau, Captain Spurlock, doubtful of the success of a frontal attack against the enemy’s strong entrenchment in the village, led his men in a strenuous flanking maneuver through five miles of exceptionally difficult terrain. Taking the enemy by complete surprise, he and his company killed seventy Japanese, routed the remainder of the hostile force and captured large stores of supplies. His skillful leadership and courageous devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.