The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class William H. L. Getz (MCSN: 542597), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a runner for an Assault Platoon of Company K, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, 15 September 1944. Undaunted in the face of intense mortar fire and rifle fire, Private First Class Getz went forward of the front lines into an open fire-swept area a pulled three wounded men to relative safety behind a cement wall within our lines. In the absence of a corpsman, he dressed their wounds and, shot three enemy riflemen who were harassing our lines from the rear. His courage, initiative and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Getz and the United States Naval Service.