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 H. Olson (ASN: 37542777), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 129th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy at Bougainville, Solomon Islands, on 23 March 1944. Private First Class Olson tenaciously defended his pillbox position against repeated Japanese assaults in the Solomon Islands. When the enemy opened the attack, he occupied a forward pillbox, but voluntarily left the comparative safety of this fortified point to take up a position in a foxhole from which he laid down such concentrated fire that a large force of hostile troops was prevented from advancing. When the volume of enemy fire made his exposed position untenable, he crawled back to his pill box only a few moments before several grenades exploded in the foxhole. When the Japanese finally charged the pillbox, he waited until they were within a few yards and opened up with such murderous fire that he annihilated the group. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Private First Class Olson, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.