William C. Bates

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to William C. Bates (0-1328562), Second Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. At Worth, Germany, on the afternoon of 29 March 1945, at 1300 hours, Second Lieutenant Bates led his platoon to spearhead his company’s advance into the city. Aggressively he led his men across a 75-yard-wide open field, under intense enemy artillery, mortar and small arms fire. With his carbine, Second Lieutenant Bates killed two enemy snipers at 150 yards range and covered his men as they scaled an eight-foot wall. Reorganizing his men behind the wall, Second Lieutenant Bates led them across 60 additional yards of open field, under continuous Germany artillery, mortar and sniper fire, and into the city to clear 10 blocks of buildings and establish a road block.