The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Walter D. Thompson, Jr. (MCSN: 353593), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity during action against enemy Japanese forces on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on October 9, 1942. While serving with Company C, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division in the area south of Point Cruz and west of the Matanikau River, Private First Class Thompson voluntarily and without orders passed through a section of enemy occupied territory under heavy fire in order to deliver a message from his commander to a portion of his company which had become separated from the main group during the course of battle. By his courageous initiative and cool fearlessness he conveyed valuable information which otherwise could not have been communicated because of injuries sustained by the company’s signalman.