William Randolph Heath

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to William Randolph Heath (34002472), Corporal, U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving with a Medical Detachment on the Bago River near Carolina, Negros Occidental, Philippine Islands, on 22 May 1945. At 1700 hours on 22 May 1945, the platoon to which Corporal Heath was attached as Aid Man was subjected to intense small arms fire by the enemy from commanding ground to the front and right front, seriously wounding a machine gunner on the forward edge of the perimeter. Corporal Heath rapidly moved forward through an area exposed to this fire and moved the wounded man to a covered position, there administering first aid. The enemy fire continued to be heavy and Corporal Heath repeatedly and without regard for his own personal safety moved forward alone to evacuate other casualties as they occurred. Without assistance he returned five wounded men to safety and administered first aid to them. Two of these men had fallen forward of the platoon perimeter and in order to reach them Corporal Heath was forced to move into the very face of the enemy fire.