The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain John L. Whitaker (Whittaker), Jr. (MCSN: 0-5712), 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 October 12 and 13, 1942. Arriving at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, with a cargo of emergency supplies, Captain Whitaker remained at his post, supervising the loading of the wounded while the field was under continuous shelling by enemy naval forces. Although the wings, fuselage and tail section of his plane were seriously damaged by shrapnel, Captain Whitaker waited only for temporary repairs and then took off his heavily loaded and damaged plane, successfully evacuating fourteen wounded men to safety. His superb airmanship and fearless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.