The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class William L. I. Crook (MCSN: 405010), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Gun Captain of a 75-mm., Self-propelled Gun of Weapons Company, Twenty-second Marines (Reinforced), First Provisional Marine Brigade in action against enemy Japanese forces on Guam, Mariana Islands on 27 July 1944. Forced to evacuate his gun compartment due to fire and smoke during an assault on enemy positions, Private First Class Crook courageously attempted to fire a machine gun and an automatic rifle located in the drivers compartment. Finding that both were out of commission, he then returned to the gun compartment which the fire had partially burned out and, single-handedly loaded, aimed and fired his weapon with felling effect until all ammunition was exhausted. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.