The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Platoon Sergeant Willard H. Stephens (MCSN: 361222), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Regimental Weapons Company, Twenty-first Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Guam, Mariana Islands, 19 August 1944. Ordered to reconnoiter an enemy bivouac area which was reported as having been occupied by a group of well-armed Japanese, Platoon Sergeant Stephens led his eight-man patrol to a point about a mile from the area where he was pinned down by heavy fire from a numerically superior hostile force. For a period of four hours, he constantly moved from man to man, controlling and directing accurate and effective fire which resulted in the withdrawal of the enemy. Conducting a systematic search of the area, he found nine enemy dead and some Japanese rifles, mortars and ammunition which were destroyed by the patrol. His aggressive leadership, fighting spirit and courageous devotion to duty reflect the highest credit on Platoon Sergeant Stephens and the United States Naval Service.