The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class William D. Gilleland (ASN: US-57505717), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company G, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 15 February 1951, near Chipyong-ni, Korea. On that date he was a platoon runner in an infantry company while that unit was in defensive positions under a large-scale attack by numerically superior enemy forces. The platoon of which he was a member was receiving the brunt of the enemy attack and the enemy fire was so intense that it was almost an impossibility to leave a position. During the early morning hours the telephone lines from the Company command post to the platoon were severed several times by shell fragments. Private Gilleland repeatedly and voluntarily left the security of his fox hole to repair these lines. On one occasion, as he was returning to the platoon, he noticed a comrade who was seriously wounded and in need of emergency treatment. Deliberately exposing himself to an intense mortar barrage, he administered emergency first aid, and then assisted the wounded man to a place of safety. Upon returning to his fox hole, Private Gilleland learned that the ammunition for a machine gun position was critically low, and unhesitatingly took it upon himself to secure a re-supply of ammunition for the position. His efforts were instrumental in enabling the machine gun crew to repulse several major enemy thrusts upon the position, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. The gallant conduct of Private Gilleland on this occasion was a source of pride and inspiration to all members of his unit and reflect great credit upon himself and uphold the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.