Headquarters, 24th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 288 (April 7, 1951)
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class Leonard W. Willis (ASN: RA-39493727), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy near Huyonburg-ni, Korea, on 1 February 1951. During his company’s assault on enemy hill-top positions he was leading his squad as the foremost element of the attack. He continually displayed a complete disregard for his own safety and ignored the enemy small arms and machine gun fire raining about him in his efforts to locate and point out targets to his men. As the attack moved about halfway up the hill one machine gun that was inflicting heavy casualties was reached by his squad. He reconnoitered the position thoroughly, but was unable to find a point at which sufficient fire could be brought to bear to silence the gun. Meanwhile, casualties in the company from the fire of this gun continued to mount. Deciding that the gun must be eliminated he instructed his squad to give him as much cover as possible and set off to institute a one man attack on the position. With utter disregard for safety he moved upward through the rain of enemy fire and grenades, slipping and sliding on the ice and snow covered slope. On reaching the position he waded into it with bayonet and rifle butt. In the wile melee that followed, he killed the five men in the position. Sergeant Willis’ courageous action saved the company from many casualties and opened the way for continued advance. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Sergeant First Class Willis, 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.