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 (Infantry) Theodore J. Wethered (ASN: 0-1304154), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 339th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division, in action on 25 April 1945, in Italy. When his nine man patrol surprised a group of fifty enemy manning an anti-tank gun covering a concrete road block, Lieutenant Wethered, a platoon leader, unhesitatingly seized advantage of his element of surprise, dispersed his small force, and opened fire with his fifty caliber machine gun. Undaunted by the numerically superior enemy, he gave orders to exploit their confusion by delivering vigorous rifle fire, moved to the flank of the enemy group, and succeeded in capturing eleven German soldiers and forcing the remainder to withdraw five hundred yards from the road block. Skillfully withdrawing his patrol and prisoners, he contacted the rest of his platoon, and by aggressively attacking the hostile group, forced the enemy to flee and abandon their anti-tank gun and equipment. His courage in boldly attacking a numerically superior force reflects the highest traditions of the military service.