William A. Craven

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to William A. Craven (0-41500), First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with a Marine Infantry Company of the FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in Korea, on 4 December 1950. First Lieutenant Craven, serving as a Rifle Platoon Leader, was assigned the mission of rescuing a platoon of Marine engineers who were surrounded and cut off by the enemy in Sudong, Korea. He skillfully deployed his platoon and personally led an assault on a commanding hill infested with more than forty entrenched enemy troops. In the ensuing action, at least six enemy troops were killed and the remainder routed in disorder. This action enabled him to bring more effective fire to bear on the enemy entrenched on adjacent hills. While the engineers were clearing the area, he redeployed his platoon and repelled an enemy counter-attack. His initiative and coolness under fire served as an inspiration to all who observed him and were directly instrumental in enabling the isolated Engineer platoon to move to safety with a minimum of casualties. First Lieutenant Craven’s heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.