The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) to Sergeant William Albert Smith (MCSN: 251730), United States Marine Corps, for gallantry in action while serving with Company M, Third Battalion, Fourth Marine Regiment, at Pucot Hill, Bataan, Philippine Islands on 23 January 1942. When his combat patrol was prevented from advancing by fire from a hostile machine gun position to the front, Sergeant Smith, with one other soldier, volunteered to go forward in an attempt to reduce the opposing gun. While advancing to a position from which he could effectively use hand grenades on the enemy position, his companion was mortally wounded by fire from the hostile gun. This courageous non-commissioned officer returned the enemy fire with his sub-machine gun, but enemy bullets, twice striking his weapon, put his sub-machine gun out of action. Sergeant Smith then hurled two grenades at the hostile position, after which he remained weaponless in his forward position to direct the movement of his patrol. His heroic action resulted not only in the withdrawal of the enemy group, but in providing the personnel of his patrol with an effective example of courageous devotion to duty, which was a factor in the successful advance.