The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant William T. Henderson (MCSN: 0-89766), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company A, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, on 12 July 1965 in the vicinity of DaNang, Republic of Vietnam. Deep in the Viet Cong insurgent territory on a reconnaissance patrol, Second Lieutenant Henderson, with six men, was searching a village while the Company Commander and the remainder of the first platoon moved ahead. Suddenly both elements were taken under heavy machine gun and automatic weapons fire from Viet Cong, who were firing from concealed positions on all sides. Separated from the rest of the platoon, Lieutenant Henderson and his men immediately began to return fire, killing or wounding three Viet Cong in the village. Observing that his Platoon Sergeant was wounded, Lieutenant Henderson dashed to the Sergeant’s side and laid down suppressive fire until the man was evacuated. Calmly and efficiently he reconsolidated and reorganized the platoon, which was spread out and under heavy fire from the Viet Cong throughout the area. For a two hour period he continually exposed himself to enemy fire in an attempt to safely regroup his men before darkness fell. Personally making sure that all were accounted for, he signaled for helicopters to land for evacuation of the men. Supervising the evacuation of the dead and wounded, Lieutenant Henderson remained behind in the landing zone to insure that all of his men were out safely. With nor more illumination flares to signal the last helicopter, he fearlessly exposed himself under heavy enemy fire and stood in the tracer raked landing zone with a flashlight to signal the craft. Through his leadership and aggressiveness in the face of extreme hazards, the platoon succeeded in killing or wounding 18 Viet Cong and destroying one machine gun. By his daring actions and loyal devotion to duty in the face of personal risk, Lieutenant Henderson upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.