The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Edward F. Wojtonowski (ASN: 36611743), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 2d Battalion, 222d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 3 April 1945, at Wurzburg, Germany. During the attack on Wurzburg, Germany, Private Wojtonowski was ordered to cross the Main River and prepare the way for the assault troops to be landed later. Braving the murderous flak and machine gun fire concentrated on the river, he and a comrade, upon reaching the opposite bank in a civilian boat, stormed an enemy-held building overlooking the crossing and forced the Germans to withdraw. When a German tank counterattacked their newly gained position, he forced its withdrawal with hand grenades. Tenaciously holding their precarious position until reinforcements were landed, he and his comrade then moved forward and knocked out an enemy machine gun nest, forcing the remaining Germans from the landing area with the captured gun. Through his gallant actions, Private Wojtonowski played a major role in the successful crossing of the Main River.