William E. Black’s Silver Star citation

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to

PRIVATE WILLIAM E. BLACK, USMC.,

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a gunner serving with Company L, Third Battalion, Sixth Marines, Reinforced, during action against enemy Japanese forces in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, January 22, 1943.When the Second Platoon of Company K was pinned down by hostile machine-gun shelling, Private Black set up his own weapon on a high grassy mound near the beleaguered detachment and neutralized the enemy’s fire. Later in the same day, while assisting in the evacuation of personnel disabled by heat exhaustion, he and the other members of his party were caught on an exposed ridge by a deadly barrage of Japanese crossfire. Working his way back to his own gun, Private Black, unaided and with utter disregard of personal safety, held the area until his stricken comrades could be taken to cover. Afterward, he labored tirelessly in ther behalf, helping carry them farther to the rear, until he himself was eventually overcome by heat exhaustion. His heroic conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

For the President,
Frank Knox
Secretary of the Navy.