The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain William R. Gould (MCSN: 0-30419), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company A, First Engineer Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea from 7 to 11 December 1950. Assigned the mission of coordinating the use of demolitions to assist the delaying action during the movement along the Hagaru-ri and Hamhung axis, Captain Gould repeatedly braved enemy fire in order to supervise the destruction of materiel of military importance which remained along the route. When he was later assigned the mission of destroying a bridge after the division equipment had crossed, he established a defense around the bridge despite hostile fire and, after ascertaining that all friendly elements had reached the other side, disengaged his defenses from contact with the enemy and supervised destruction of the bridge. By his professional skill and indomitable courage, Captain Gould was directly responsible for preventing the hostile forces from using remaining military equipment and for closing the route of approach to the enemy, thereby contributing materially to the successful movement of the Division. His resourcefulness and heroic devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.