The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Platoon Sergeant George E. Aho (MCSN: 254632), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in combat against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 3 November 1942. With his platoon leader seriously wounded and removed from the field of battle, Platoon Sergeant Aho took charge, and by his cool, courageous leadership kept his men in the thick of the action. In the face of heavy enemy machine-gun and mortar fire, with several of his command killed or wounded, he fought on with grim determination and steadfast devotion to duty, neutralizing one machine-gun nest and killing several snipers who were holding up the advance of his platoon. His comrades, following his heroic example, were finally able to close with the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. As a result, Platoon Sergeant Aho and his dauntless men were responsible to a great extent for the complete annihilation of the Japanese at this point.