The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant William L. Woodruff (MCSN: 0-8220), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Engineering Officer of a Marine Aircraft Group in combat against enemy Japanese forces on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands from September 25 to November 2, 1942. Responsible for keeping the planes at Henderson Field in commission, Second Lieutenant Woodruff by his cool and courageous leadership was an inspiration to his men who worked with tenacious devotion to duty during periods of intense enemy gun fire from both ship and land based artillery. On the morning of October 14 after bombardments by hostile vessels for approximately two hours, only one dive bomber remained which was ready for flight. Quickly ascertaining the condition of each damaged plane, Second Lieutenant Woodruff, with daring initiative and outstanding technical skill directed his men under intermittent shell fire in repairing and placing back in commission a sufficient number of planes to repulse the attempted Japanese landing. His heroic conduct throughout this period was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.