The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Master Technical Sergeant John J. Murphy (MCSN: 270159), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine Aircraft Group TWENTY-THREE during the bombing of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, by enemy Japanese forces on the night of 13 – 14 October 1942. When a direct bomb hit demolished a dugout in which he and five other men had taken shelter, Master Technical Sergeant Murphy freed himself and then assisted a comrade in getting out from under the debris. Exposed to enemy shells from surface vessels and aircraft, and lacking tools, he dug with his bare hands for an hour and a half in a desperate but vain attempt to extricate the others. His great courage and heroic devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.