The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Norman E. Mantey (ASN: 0-411081), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 135th Field Artillery Battalion, 37th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy at Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 13 February 1945. When the wire line between First Lieutenant Mantey’s liaison party and a supporting artillery battalion was repeatedly cut by enemy fire, his wiremen were forced to abandon attempts to repair the numerous breaks because of enemy fire on the pontoon bridge over which it was laid. First Lieutenant Mantey ordered his crew to cover, backed a wire truck to the edge of the bridge, took the end of a new line and ran over three hundred yards under artillery bursts to splice the wire at the battalion wirehead. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Mantey, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.