The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant William Bellano (MCSN: 0-18330), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Assistant Bomb Disposal Officer of the FOURTH Marine Division, and Officer-in-Charge of all bomb disposal on Namur Island, during and after the Battle of Roi-Namur Islands, Kwajalein Atoll, from 2 to 14 February 1944. Applying exceptional skill and tireless energy to the fulfillment of his mission, Second Lieutenant Bellano removed from Roi and Namur Islands, without a single mishap, many fused United States ordnance duds and innumerable items of Japanese ordnance. His faultless performance and fearless devotion to a hazardous duty reflect the highest credit upon Second Lieutenant Bellano and the United States Naval Service.