Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant, Junior Grade

    Action Date:

    June 6, 1944

    Commander Naval Forces Europe: Serial 7565 (September 7, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Willis E. Buettner, United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of a landing craft (mechanized), on 6 June 1944, during the invasion of the French Coast. While landing United States Army Demolition Units, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Buettner saw a landing craft (mechanized) in his wave and a landing craft vehicle (personnel) from a prior wave, hit and crippled by enemy shell fire approximately two hundred and fifty yards from the beach. Upon retracting from his own beaching, he ordered his landing craft (mechanized) to pick up the survivors of the crew of the landing craft vehicle (personnel) that had sunk. Then with utter disregard for his own safety, he proceeded to the stricken landing craft (mechanized) which was loaded with Army Demolition troops and materials, evacuated the troops and crew of the landing craft (mechanized) and landed the troops ashore safely thus enabling the troops to carry out their assigned task. The leadership and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Buettner were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.