Walter Raleigh Ely, Jr.

Sergeant, U. S. Marine Corps

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Walter R. Ely, Jr. (MCSN: 321660), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR (VFM-224), during the bombardment of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, by enemy Japanese surface and air forces on the night of 13 - 14 October 1942.
When a heavy enemy shell struck dangerously close to a bomb shelter, burying five marines under a mass of earth and debris, Sergeant Ely, hearing cries for help, voluntarily exposed himself to the intense fire of hostile shells and bombs and, with several other men, set to work rescuing their imprisoned comrades.
Due to the quick thinking and heroic efforts of Sergeant Ely and his companions, two of the buried men were saved, and the bodies of the other three marines were recovered. His unswerving devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.