The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Robert G. Willard (MCSN: 0-13329), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while attached to the Second Marine Raider Battalion during a landing attack against enemy Japanese forces in the Cape Torokina Area on Bougainville Island, British Solomon Islands on 1 November 1943. Realizing the necessity of reducing an enemy reinforced trench containing eight armed Japanese soldiers in order to prevent his platoon from becoming immobilized, First Lieutenant Willard immediately organized and led an attack on the hostile stronghold. Preceding his troops in the hazardous approach to the hostile position, he fired his weapon with grim determination and despite withering enemy machine gun and mortar fire, personally killed four of the Japanese soldiers. First Lieutenant Willard’s brilliant leadership and heroic devotion to duty enabled his platoon to reach its objective and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.