The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Manley R. Peeples (ASN: 34210328), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 5 January 1945, near ****, Belgium. Sergeant Peeples, Squad Leader, was directing his squad while his platoon assaulted enemy positions on a wooded hill. When his squad was pinned down by enemy fire, Sergeant Peeples advanced by himself 75 yards and single-handed knocked out one machine gun position. He next assaulted a dugout, killing three and capturing two. Sergeant Peeples then laid down considerable fire with a Thompson Sub-Machine Gun, enabling his squad to advance on a line with the rest of the platoon and was wounded during this action. The heroic conduct of Sergeant Peeples was above and beyond the call of duty and worthy of emulation and reflects the highest credit on the Airborne Forces of the United States Army.