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) William B. Thomas (ASN: 0-1302232), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 222d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 18 April 1945 at Furth, Germany. Volunteering to lead a patrol across the Regnitz River to establish a bridgehead, Lieutenant Thomas reconnoitered a route under heavy fire, then led the patrol forward. When the patrol was held up at the river’s edge by enemy automatic weapons fire Lieutenant Thomas made his way back and brought up a tank destroyer, exposing himself to point out the hostile positions to the destroyer commander. Under cover of the destroyer’s fire, the patrol moved forward again, only to be held up a second time by heavy fire. Lieutenant Thomas once more brought up a tank destroyer and pointed out the hostile positions, which were silenced by the destroyer. Observing that one of his men was wounded, Lieutenant Thomas moved him to cover, then led the patrol across the river and established the bridgehead. There the small patrol beat off violent counterattacks for three hours, relief arriving when its ammunition was practically expended. By his outstanding courage and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Thomas made possible the crossing of the Regnitz River with minimum casualties.