STAFF SERGEANT ARTHUR WHITE, Infantry, United States Army. For extraordinary heroism in action near Shuri, Okinawa Shima, Ryukyus Islands, on the 10th and 11th of May 1945. Sergeant White, leader of the first platoon, Company L, Infantry which, after thirteen days continuous action during the attack on Shuri consisted of only seven men, was assigned the mission of advancing and capturing a key ridge. During the advance the platoon came under heavy mortar, machine gun, and rifle fire from deliberately prepared field fortifications on the platoon objective. Knowing the great importance of his mission in the scheme of maneuver of the battalion, Sergeant White directed his platoon to cover him by fire and, voluntarily and alon, exposed himself to the entire firepower of the enemy, skillfully worked his way to a shell hole ten yards from hostile mortar emplacements. With accurately thrown grenades, Sergeant White silenced the two mortars, killing five of the enemy. He continued to press his attack, firing his rifle rapidly into the cave positions on the reverse slope, enabling the platoon to overrun the objective. Again on 17 May, Sergeant White and his platoon encountered intense enemy machine gun fire and rifle fire from positions on dominating terrain. Knowing that he could ill afford to lose more men, Sergeant White voluntarily scaled a precipitous, fire-swept ridge, ignoring the fire white was chipping the rocks around him. While still under fire he reached a point close to the enemy and with two shots from his rifle killed both men of an enemy light machine gun crew which was firing from a concrete tomb. He then placed well-aimed fire on additional cave positions, enabling his platoon to close with the enemy and capture the position, Sergeant White’s extraordinary heroism, determination, and intrepid leadership were a constant inspiration to the platoon, and contributed immeasurably to the successful accomplishment of the United Stated Military Service.

Mr. White resides in Pennsylvania.