The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Hospitalman William H. Brent, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company I, Third Battalion, Sixth Marines, against rebel forces in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on the afternoon of 30 April 1965. As the platoon was brought under an intense three-sided cross fire of rebel small arms and heavy automatic weapons, Hospitalman Brent saw four wounded Marines in an open area 60 yards away. Disregarding his own safety, he courageously left a sheltered area and, although wounded almost immediately, crawled to the Marine casualties while under heavy automatic weapons fire and began to administer aid. He remained with the wounded until they were evacuated by an armored vehicle to the command post. Hospitalman Brent’s aggressiveness, initiative and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.