The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private William E. Hurst (MCSN: 408440), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as an Automatic Rifleman in a Reconnaissance Platoon of Weapons Company, Twenty-second Marines (Reinforced), First Provisional Marine Brigade in action against enemy Japanese forces on Guam, Mariana Islands on 22 July 1944. Although wounded three times while his platoon was repulsing a numerically superior enemy force, Private Hurst continued in the fight and moving from one position to another to keep his weapon in offensive action, delivered intense fire on the attacking troops. After being weakened by loss of blood, he refused medical attention and urged his comrades to continue the fight. By his heroic conduct Private Hurst contributed materially to the annihilation of the enemy detachment and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.