The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major William A. Wood (MCSN: 0-7254), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Executive Officer of the First Battalion, Twenty-eighth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 9 March 1945. Assuming command just before night fall when the Commanding Officer of an assault company was killed during an attack against a heavily fortified hostile ridge, Major Wood immediately reorganized the company and then courageously led ten men forward to a ridge under heavy enemy fire to reconnoiter a night defensive position. Finding the ridge untenable due to heavy mortar fire, he led his patrol back to the front lines to discover that the remnants of the company were pinned down by hostile machine gun fire from a Japanese emplacement. Accompanied by another Marine, Major Wood unhesitatingly seized a rocket launcher and ten rounds of ammunition and moving forward of the lines in the face of intense hostile machine gun, mortar and grenade fire, directed several well aimed rounds which completely destroyed the enemy position and killed the six Japanese occupants. By his heroic action he enabled his company to consolidate and hold its position with a minimum of casualties. Major Wood’s aggressive fighting spirit and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval service.