The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Benjamin M. Peters, Jr. (ASN: 39707770), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 232d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 3 March 1945, near Wimmenau, France, Sergeant Peters led a two-man patrol that traversed enemy territory through heavily-mined positions to a point 2500 yards behind their lines. On the way they passed one five-man enemy patrol and after hiding in the woods for an hour to avoid another ten-man patrol continued their reconnaissance and located an enemy ammunition dump. Then, leaving the other man to observe enemy activity in the area, Sergeant Peters went on alone for another mile to a point where he could closely observe the enemy-held town of Untermuhlthal and the adjoining area and roads. After noting the type and volume of traffic and rejoining the other man, they worked their way back to our lines passing through a ten-man enemy patrol armed with automatic weapons that was searching the woods. By his courage, skill, and alertness, Sergeant Peters obtained detailed information of the strength, location, and activity of the enemy over a wide area, which proved of great value in the formulation of our plans.