The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) William J. Lober (ASN: 0-956070), United States Army, for gallantry in action as Commanding Officer of Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 24 March 1951, in the vicinity of Uijongbu, Korea, Lieutenant Lober was loading his company in an attack on Hill 337 against strongly fortified enemy positions. Initially loading a reconnaissance party forward, he came under heavy mortar and intense small arms fire while proceeding to a previously selected observation post. At this point Lieutenant Lober was pinned down by fire from an automatic weapon approximately seventy five yards distant. Accurately firing his weapon he quickly neutralized this position by killing two enemy. Moving into a hut he had selected for his observation post, he encountered another enemy sniper whom he killed with his pistol. Shortly thereafter, Lieutenant Lober fearlessly led his company to the line of departure and assigned sectors to the assaulting platoons. When one platoon became pinned down, he dashed through a fire swept area to direct the fire of a tank platoon on enemy positions. The gallantry and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Lober reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.