The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Gunnery Sergeant William A. Lee (MCSN: 118214), United States Marine Corps, for distinguished service in the line of his profession while in command of a Guardia patrol from 11 December to 20 December 1930. Gunnery Sergeant Lee displayed great courage and skill as a leader conducting his patrol through hostile country, defeating the bandits in three successive contacts; San Juan, 12 December 1930; Sierra Moreno, 15 December 1930; and Embocaderos, 20 December 1930; twice successfully attacking superior numbers. By their persistence and indomitable courage and skillful leadership of Sergeant Lee, the Guardia broke the morale of the bandits forcing the dispersal of the bandit groups and the abandonment of a foray into the coffee districts south of the Tuma River.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross to Gunnery Sergeant William A. Lee (MCSN: 118214), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession and devotion to duty while Second in Command of a Guardia patrol from 20 September to 1 October 1932. This patrol of two officers and forty men penetrated one hundred miles north and east of Jinotega City, Department of Jinotega, Nicaragua, into isolated, mountainous bandit territory with no means of communication and no base nearer than Jinotega City. On 26 September 1932, the patrol was ambushed northeast of Kilande Mountain by an insurgent group of over one hundred and fifty, armed with not less than seven automatic weapons, grenades, bombs, various classes of small arms, and plentifully supplied with ammunition. Gunnery Sergeant Lee was wounded twice and became unconscious in the early stages of combat. After a period of from fifteen to twenty minutes he recovered consciousness, and in spite of his weakened condition, with disregard of his personal safety, he moved the Lewis Machine Gun to a better fire position, used it with destructive effect, resumed his duties as Second in Command, and went forward in the final attack on the enemy position. The additional fire power of the Lewis Machine Gun from its new position as well as the leadership and example set by Gunnery Sergeant Lee were largely instrumental in gaining a signal victory over the enemy.