William T. Womble, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to William T. Womble, Jr. (2168383), Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against enemy forces while serving as an Engineer, attached to Company E, Second Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division, near Khe Sanh, in the Republic of Vietnam, on 3 May 1967. In the defense of hill complexes south of Hill 881 North, Company E was attacked by a fierce and determined enemy force, overrunning some of the Second Platoon’s positions. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Lance Corporal Womble unhesitatingly rushed from his position, retrieved ammunition from the overrun positions and proceeded to redistribute badly needed machine gun and 60-mm. mortar ammunition. With complete disregard for his own safety, he continued to move through extreme automatic weapons fire until positions in critical need of ammunition were re-supplied. Then, observing several Marines pinned down in the Second Platoon Command Bunker, he opened fire with his M-14 and single-handedly engaged the enemy, drawing fire upon himself so that the Marines in the bunker could gain fire superiority. As he daringly delivered a large volume of well-aimed accurate fire into the enemy, he was mortally wounded by heavy automatic weapons fire. Lance Corporal Womble’s initiative, courageous actions and loyal devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.