The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Joseph R. Wooldridge, United States Naval Reserve, for gallantry in action while serving as a Medical Corpsman attached to the Third Marine Raider Battalion on 5 November 1943. When a Japanese infiltration party crept near his foxhole and knifed three Marines, Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Wooldridge crawled 20 yards to reach the injured men, although previously warned that any man who ventured out of his foxhole would be regarded as an enemy. In the total darkness he located all of their wounds by sense of touch, stopped the bleeding and kept watch over them until they could be evacuated the following morning. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.