Carl Lee Wilhite

Private 1st Class, U. S. Marine Corps

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Pacific: Serial 98716
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Carl L. Wilhite (MCSN: 910980), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Headquarters Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands on 14 June 1945.
When two men were killed and a third was seriously wounded while attempting to enter a cave occupied by armed enemy troops, Private First Class Wilhite courageously and voluntarily crawled forward to the entrance of the cave where the bodies were lying in complete view of the enemy and with the assistance of another Marine, dragged the wounded man to safety.
Then, a second and third time, he and his companion exposed themselves to the enemy to crawl forward and recover the bodies of their comrades who had been killed. By his initiative, fortitude and devotion to duty, Private First Class Wilhite upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.