The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant William O. Sellers (MCSN: 0-17760), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company K, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 2 May 1945. Advancing his company against extremely heavy resistance, First Lieutenant Sellers observed that one of his platoons was being driven off a strategic ridge by intense enemy mortar, machine-gun and rifle fire and, realizing that the ridge must be held at all costs, personally took command of the platoon. Despite heavy casualties suffered by his unit, he rallied his men and, advancing at the front, led the platoon back to the ridge. Although adjacent units had withdrawn because of the vigorous resistance thus exposing both his platoon’s flanks, First Lieutenant Sellers placed his men in position and, during the night, directed them in hand-to-hand defense against four determined attempts to retake the ridge. His exemplary leadership, cool courage and determined devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.