The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class William J. Gould (MCSN: 380341), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Automatic Rifleman serving with the Third Battalion, Twenty-fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, 19 June 1944. Locating and attacking alone a strongly held enemy position concealed in a cave, Private First Class Gould unhesitatingly entered the dugout and, although wounded and without hope of assistance, fearlessly continued to fire his weapon until he was fatally wounded. By his heroic and daring effort which resulted in the destruction of numerous Japanese, Private First Class Gould contributed Materially to the success of his Battalion’s mission on this strategically important island, and his selfless, unfaltering devotion to duty at the risk of his own life was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Unites States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.