The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant James W. Kaufman (MCSN: 290966), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 24 October 1942. During dangerous assaults against our Lunga defense lines by a numerically superior Japanese force, Sergeant Kaufman, with courageous initiative, located and repaired telephone wire line breaks which threatened to seriously disrupt the battalion’s communication system. Fully aware that he was an unprotected target for the weapons of infiltrating enemy groups, he, nevertheless, carried out this voluntary task and, by his prompt, efficient, and heroic action, maintained telephone communications at a critical time during the engagement, thereby enabling his battalion to coordinate its efforts and realize ultimate success in the defeat of the enemy force. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.