The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class William Joseph Dougherty (MCSN: 660400), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Machine Gun Ammunition Carrier of Company F, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 24 September 1950. With his crew pinned down by enemy machine gun fire during an assault by his company against Hill 56, Private First Class Dougherty promptly went into action and, charging the position single-handedly, destroyed the machine gun and annihilated the crew with hand grenades, thereby enabling his gun crew to continue firing. By his daring initiative, inspiring courage and fortitude at great risk to his own life, Private First Class Dougherty contributed materially to the successful assault against a vital objective and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.