The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Colonel (Infantry) William Jordan Verbeck (ASN: 0-16852), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as Commanding Officer of the 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy near Pinamopoan, Leyte, Philippine Islands, on 11 November 1944. The regiment of infantry which Colonel Verbeck was commanding had been held up for five days by a determined Japanese force of infantry and artillery. The enemy was strongly entrenched in the gulches and on the reverse slopes of a commanding ridge about two thousand yards southwest of Pinamopoan. They were fresh first-line troops, equipped with a high percentage of automatic weapons. At this critical time Colonel Verbeck organized a striking force consisting of one platoon of medium tanks protected by the regimental intelligence and reconnaissance platoon and one engineer mine detector squad, and personally led it on foot to the crest of the ridge, from which point the infantry and tanks were, for the first time, able to advance and hold ground. The turning point had been reached. From then on our troops were able to move steadily forward. Colonel Verbeck’s example of bravery and energy had inspired his troops with the drive needed to overcome an aggressive well-trained enemy force and is in keeping with the highest military traditions.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Colonel (Infantry) William Jordan Verbeck (ASN: 0-16852), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Commanding Officer of the 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division against the enemy in the Philippine Islands, on 2 March 1945. Colonel Verbeck led a patrol of three men on a night reconnaissance in front of his own leading elements to locate Japanese machine guns and to rescue any of the four men who were still missing after the operations of the preceding afternoon. Although wounded himself, he completed the reconnaissance and brought the patrol back to his own positions safely. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Colonel Verbeck, 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.