The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class William E. Besse (MCSN: 353314), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Fire Team Leader of the Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Peleliu, Palau Islands, on 27 September 1944. With his fire team assigned the mission of advancing with an amphibian tractor against strongly fortified hostile positions, Private First Class Besse courageously exposed himself to heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire to direct flame throwers on the hostile positions and his team’s fire on hostile riflemen who were firing on the crew of the tractor. By his heroic action, he annihilated thirty of the enemy to make it possible for our forces to advance and seize an important objective. During his platoon’s attack against Hill 140 on 11 October, Private First Class Besse boldly moved his fire team to a position from which effective fire could be delivered upon the enemy, and skillfully directed his men in annihilating eight Japanese soldiers and destroying one heavy machine gun before the enemy could bring fire to bear on the advancing troops. By his bravery, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty throughout, Private First Class Besse upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.