Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Cavalry), [then First Lieutenant]

    Regiment:

    7th Cavalry Regiment

    Division:

    1st Cavalry Division

    Action Date:

    March 19, 1944

    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 17 (March 5, 1948)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Cavalry), [then First Lieutenant] William W. Jean, United States Army, for gallantry in action as a Platoon Leader in Troop F, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, on 19 March 1944, on Marcus Island, Bismarck Archipelago. Leading his unit on combat reconnaissance, he suddenly ran into heavy enemy machine gun fire, which killed or wounded several of the platoon. Quickly, he made a check of the terrain under the continuing fire. Discovering a large bunker as the key to the enemy location, he designated positions for the platoon and, with one other man, crawled forward. Suddenly, he signaled the other man to open fire on the enemy position. With a grenade in each hand, Captain Jean made a lone assault on the enemy bunker, throwing the grenades through the gun slit and dropping to the ground. Crawling back quickly to the platoon, he assembled his men and directed the systematic clearing of the remaining enemy force. Through his personal courage and outstanding leadership, Captain Jean accomplished the elimination of the dangerous enemy position, which enabled the platoon to continue its advance.