The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal [then Private First Class] Furman Williams, Jr. (ASN: RA-14345794), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 7 September 1951, while occupying defensive positions on Hill 284, near Chorwon, Korea, Company L was attacked by a numerically superior enemy force of estimated battalion strength. After the first and second attacks had failed, the enemy launched a third which, by sheer weight of numbers, penetrated sectors of the defenses. In one of the overwhelmed sectors, the weapon of an automatic rifleman failed. Corporal Williams, occupying the adjacent position, unhesitatingly left the comparative safety of his dug-in position and attacked the onrushing enemy with grenades and rifle fire. Disregarding the enemy fire directed at him, Corporal Williams succeeded in disbursing the nearest group of hostile soldiers by killing two and wounding one. This courageous action enabled his comrades to repair the weapon and bring its firepower to bear on the foe, contributing greatly to the successful defense of the perimeter. The gallantry, initiative and aggressiveness displayed by Corporal Williams reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.