The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Seaman Second Class Lawrence Christefor Meyer (NSN: 6227411), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Naval Construction Battalion SIX in the British Solomon Islands. On 3 October 1942, during an air raid alarm, Seaman Second Class Meyer, who was a member of a crew working on the construction of a bomber field, took shelter in a machine gun pit near the southeast corner of the field. During a strafing attack by Japanese Zero planes, he manned a machine gun mounted in the pit and fired on enemy planes. Eye witnesses saw tracer bullets from Seaman Meyer’s gun repeatedly strike the plane which was shot down. Seaman Second Class Meyer’s action in manning the machine gun was beyond his regular duty, which was work on the construction and maintenance of the air field. Seaman Second Class Meyer was killed in action on 16 October 1942, while working on a pontoon barge loaded with gasoline which was struck by enemy bombs and set afire. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.