The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant William C. Kelly (ASN: ER-36928776), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company I, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 14 February 1951, in the vicinity of Wonju, Korea. On that date Company I was in defensive positions on the left flank of its battalion. Sergeant Kelly was in charge of a group of five men on the company observation post and was subject to attack by approximately 100 enemy troops, as a result of which he was ordered to withdraw to the higher ground to the rear and to cover the withdrawal of the remainder of the second platoon from that point. When they arrived at the designated place, four of the men with Sergeant Kelly were lost, which left him the almost impossible task of holding off the enemy with the assistance of only one man. For almost six hours he was under continual attack by a numerically superior enemy force that pounded his position unmercifully with mortar, small arms and automatic weapons fire. Fighting furiously with his rifle and a supply of grenades, Sergeant Kelly threw back attack after attack. During this time, the second platoon was able to withdraw and reestablish itself in a more advantageous position from which it could better repel the future enemy attacks. The gallantry and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Kelly reflect great credit upon himself and uphold the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.