The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private Harold O. Hilde (MCSN: 561026), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company A, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands on 11 May 1945. When his company’s advance was halted by intense and accurate hostile machine gun fire from a large, reinforced concrete pill box, Private Hilde courageously assaulted this position across open terrain and silenced the weapon with hand grenades. Then entering the pill box he annihilated five of the enemy who were manning the gun, thereby assisting materially in the capture of commanding ground which insured the successful completion of his company’s mission. By his fortitude, initiative and devotion to duty, Private Hilde upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.