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 [then Sergeant] William A. Grunwald (ASN: 36655316), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 232d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 2 April 1945, near Schollbrunn, Germany. When his company was held up by enemy machine gun fire from a woods, Sergeant Grunwald, a squad leader, led a patrol into the woods toward the hostile positions until it drew fire from an enemy machine gun. Ordering his men to take cover on either side of a road, Sergeant Grunwald, armed only with his rifle, advanced towards the enemy gun. When he was fired upon he returned the fire with his rifle and continued to advance. One of the machine gunners was wounded by his fire and the remaining two surrendered. By his courage and devotion to duty his company was able to continue its advance without casualties.