The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) William F. Gaylord (ASN: 0-1181606), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Battery C, 140th Field Artillery Battalion, 37th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in the Philippine Islands, on 17 June 1945. When the advance of our forces through the Cagayan Valley was halted by heavy enemy rifle and machine gun fire, First Lieutenant Gaylord, a field artillery forward observer, courageously exposed himself to enemy fire in order to reach a good point of observation from which to register artillery fire on the Japanese. While engaged in directing this barrage he was mortally wounded by hostile machine gun fire when he exposed himself to observe the results of our fire. However, his initial fire instructions had been highly accurate and a heavy concentration of artillery fire based on his data routed the Japanese and enabled the infantry to reach its objective without further opposition. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Gaylord, 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 Army.