The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant [then Sergeant] William M. Murphy (ASN: 6295182), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Battery E, 60th Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft), in action at Fort Mills, Philippine Islands, on 16 April 1942. During the course of heavy artillery fire on Fort Mills, when over 20 casualties occurred in the Middleside Barracks, Sergeant Murphy voluntarily and without regard for his personal safety, left a place of shelter and aided in removing and then treating casualties in an exposed position for one and one-half hours, during which time heavy shelling of the area continued and one air raid alert was given.