The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Major Thomas Frank Sweeney (MCSN: 208378), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company A, First Battalion, Fourth Marines in action against enemy Japanese forces at Corregidor, in the Philippine Islands, on the night of 5 May 1942. Correctly gauging the threat to our forces when the invading enemy established a machine gun on top of a water tower on the eastern part of the island fortress, Sergeant Major Sweeney resolutely determined to silence the savagely firing weapon. Quick to act, he fearlessly made his way to the base of the tower under cover of darkness and, boldly exposing himself to the slashing fury of enemy rifle fire, rapidly scaled the face of the structure and succeeded in reaching the top, despite the sudden intensity of hostile shellfire which assailed him on all sides. Taking the gun crew by surprise, he dropped a live grenade among the occupying Japanese, then dived head-first into the group of enemy soldiers remaining alive after the grenade explosion, thereby frustrating their attempts to fire. Fiercely engaging in hand-to-hand combat, he killed the fanatically fighting Japanese one by one before he himself fell, mortally wounded. Unable to leave the tower, he succumbed shortly after the heroic fulfillment of his voluntary mission. Stouthearted and indomitable, Sergeant Major Sweeney, by his dauntless initiative, aggressive fighting spirit and self-sacrificing devotion to duty in the face of tremendous odds, had single-handedly annihilated an extremely effective, strategically placed Japanese installation and his outstanding valor and cool decision in a critical situation reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.