The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal James R. Stonesifer (MCSN: 443276), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Compass Man of a Six-Man Reconnaissance Patrol of Company D, Third Tank Battalion, Twenty-first Marines, THIRD Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Cape Torokina Area, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, from 20 to 24 December 1943. After advancing into hostile territory and engaging the Japanese in a brief fire fight, Corporal Stonesifer and his patrol proceeded around the opposing force into Japanese bivouac area where they remained throughout the night and obtained valuable information. Disregarding the intense pain from wounds received the next day in fierce combat with the enemy on two occasions, he personally destroyed a machine-gun nest with hand grenades and killed two Japanese attempting to emplace another gun. Then, penetrating farther into enemy lines, he successfully remained at an observation post a few feet from hostile activity for twenty-three hours until all possible information had been obtained. His aggressive determination and zealous devotion to duty in the face of grave peril served as an inspiration to his patrol and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.