The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Willard W. White (ASN: 14019541), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of the *** Tank Destroyer Battalion, XII Corps, in action against an armed enemy on 19 October 1944, in France. Private First Class White, in company with other members of the second gun section of the second platoon, were serving the three-inch tank destroyer guns on the outskirts of Manencouret, France. They were engaged in defending the area against enemy mechanized attack at the time, with all guns and vehicles within 1,200 yards of the enemy, when without warning extremely heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire began falling in the immediate vicinity of the guns. One of the men from the same gun section sought protection from the enemy fire underneath his parked half-track and while underneath the half-track was seriously wounded by the enemy fire. Private First Class White was in a fox hole about ten yards away from the injured man, and, seeing that the man was seriously wounded, proceeded to leave his own fox hole while the heavy shelling was still in progress, completely disregarding his own personal safety, and went to the injured man, administered first aid, and carried him to a first aid station about 400 yards away. During the entire time of Private First Class White’s act, the enemy artillery and mortar fire continued heavily and was extremely close by. 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 Army.