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 William N. Beard (ASN: RA-17307456), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Battery B, 10th Field Artillery Battalion, 3d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Korea. On 23 November 1951, attached to an artillery forward observation team implementing Company F, 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment which was defending Hill 355, near Kowang-ni, Korea. Private Beard was present when the enemy assaulted after an intense artillery bombardment. Realizing that his duty as an observer was temporarily ended, he left his position of comparative cover and fearlessly advanced to the forward hill slope under a deluge of bursting shells to reach friendly troops who had been trapped or wounded in their bunkers by the devastating hostile barrage and begin digging them out. Forced to desist from his rescue efforts by enemy troops who were fanatically charging through their own artillery barrage carrying Bangalore torpedoes and dynamite, Private Beard seized a rifle and shot one hostile soldier attempting to breach the barbed wire defenses and quickly accounted for two more who were attacking a nearby comrade. The assault having subsided in this area, he and his comrade were deploying to the right when they passed a machine gun position, the crew of which had been wounded. Manning the idle weapon, Private Beard delivered effective fire upon the foe until hostile shrapnel struck the machine gun, knocking it out. Shaken but determined, he steadfastly resumed rifle fire until an enemy missile tore his weapon from his hands, but refusing to withdraw, he assisted his comrade by loading rifle clips until the ammunition was exhausted. Proceeding to the defensive perimeter. Private Beard remained hurling grenades at the foe as long as any were attacking. The exemplary gallantry and inspiring determination displayed by Private Beard reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.