The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Wilson K. Long, United States Coast Guard (Reserve), for conspicuous gallantry in action on 26 January 1944, while attached to the U.S.S. LST 16 during the amphibious invasion at Anzio, Italy. During a full gale, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Long volunteered to take a landing boat to a burning LST nearby. Despite the fact that the burning ship was pitching and rolling in a dangerous manner and ammunition was exploding, he affected the rescue of a soldier, trapped in a lower compartment without means of escape, by removing him through a hole in the side of the ship.