The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant William J. Whalen (MCSN: 498513), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Tank Commander of Company A, First Tank Battalion, FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands on 10 June 1945. Observing a friendly tank forward of the front lines hit and disabled by an enemy anti-tank gun, Sergeant Whalen immediately dismounted from his own tank and while under intense hostile fire that had nearby troops pinned down, worked his way to the disabled vehicle. Upon reaching the tank and finding the tank commander dead and several of the crew wounded he evacuated the wounded to safety and administered first aid to them. Returning to the crippled vehicle, he recovered the body of the tank commander. By his courageous efforts and coolness under fire, Sergeant Whalen saved the lives of his wounded comrades and his devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.