The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Will T. Hornbeck (MCSN: 286211), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Platoon Sergeant of Company F, Second Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Guam, Mariana Islands on 25 July 1944. Aggressively leading his platoon in an attack against the enemy over rough, rocky terrain in the face of heavy enemy machine gun, rifle, mortar and grenade fire, Sergeant Hornbeck made repeated trips through this area and, although seriously wounded early in the fire fight by an enemy machine gun which was holding up the advance of his platoon, remained at his post in command. After locating the position of the hostile weapon, he directed fire on the area and, silencing the enemy fire, directed his men in capturing the objective, permitting him to be evacuated only at the conclusion of the action. His courageous leadership, fortitude and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.