The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant James M. Walker (MCSN: 0-6330), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as pilot of a naval transport plane attached to Marine Aircraft Group TWENTY-FIVE, operating in the Solomon Islands Area on September 14, 1942. Arriving at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, with a cargo of emergency supplies for troops at that point, Second Lieutenant Walker courageously remained at his post, supervising the loading of the wounded during bombing and strafing of the field by Japanese dive bombers and fighter planes. While taking off with fourteen seriously wounded men, he was attacked by four enemy fighters. Although his plane was entirely without defensive armament, Second Lieutenant Walker maneuvered his craft in skillful evasive tactics and succeeded in avoiding the enemy until Navy fighter planes could come to his rescue. His superb airmanship and fearless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.