William R. Orr

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to William R. Orr (0-305299), First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving as Executive Officer in Company B, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. When enemy 88’s north of Zweibrucken, Germany, prevented the company advance the morning of 21 March 1945, First Lieutenant Orr ignored intense fire to run 300 yards and direct such effective 60-mm. mortar fire that the enemy fled their gun positions. Later he directed Tank Destroyer fire on three enemy manning an observation post, killing two and wounding the third. The company was then able to continue its advance.