The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal William T. Moriarty (MCSN: 535992), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Squad Leader of Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 23 February 1945. Leading his squad forward in bold defiance of the enemy’s rifle and machine-gun barrages, Corporal Moriarty, observing that adjacent units were unable to keep up with his unit because of the terrific fire, immediately displaced his squad to the main line of the platoon. Subsequently, when a machine gun was left exposed as a result of casualties in the platoon, he aggressively forced his way through heavy rifle and hand grenade fire in a determined effort to prevent the machine gun from falling into Japanese hands. Single-handedly retrieving the weapon despite a terrific concentration of hostile fire aimed directly at him, he returned to his lines and consistently used the rescued weapon to cover the advance of his company until he fell, mortally wounded by an enemy sniper. His daring initiative, heroic courage and outstanding skill reflect the highest credit upon Corporal Moriarty and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.