The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) William H. Becker (ASN: 0-1303600), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 5 February 1944, while serving with the 7th Infantry Division in the Kwajalein Campaign. When landing his platoon in the assault wave against a determined enemy, Second Lieutenant Becker, under heavy enemy machine gun fire and without regard for his own safety, crawled forward through heavy underbrush, located the enemy position, and placed all available automatic weapons fire on the target. He then led a small group of men forward to the enemy strong point where he launched a vigorous grenade attack and ended all resistance from the enemy. By his cool thinking and courage under fire, Second Lieutenant Becker destroyed the enemy in that area without the loss of a single life in his platoon.