The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant William Wilson, United States Army, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life at Bao Loc, Republic of Vietnam, on 17 June 1968. On that date, Sergeant Wilson was the platoon sergeant of the point platoon. During the initial probing assault Sergeant Wilson single-handedly assaulted two enemy bunkers with hand grenades and rifle fire and knocked them out, killing five enemy soldiers, without regard for his own life. This act of exceptional personal valor provided the impetus to break into the center of the base camp. When given the order to withdraw, he aided his wounded in getting into the new company perimeter. Double-checking his sector, Sergeant Wilson personally dragged two men to safety under intense enemy fire. When called upon to lead his platoon back into the base camp to retrieve the wounded from another platoon, Sergeant Wilson moved from element to element under intense enemy defensive fires, directing the assault, defense for the counterattacks, and the security for the withdrawal of the wounded. Sergeant Wilson’s courageous leadership inspired his men through the 7-hour action in which his unit was subjected to heavy machinegun, rocket-propelled grenade, and 60-mm. mortar fires. For these combined feats of personal valor Sergeant Wilson is awarded the Silver Star for exceptional gallantry in combat action.