The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry) William G. Mueller (ASN: 0-439848), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 222d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 3 April 1945, in Wurzburg, Germany. After crossing the Main River in assault boats, Captain Mueller was leading his company as the point of the battalion advance through the streets of Wurzburg when the enemy launched a heavy counterattack to regain the bridgehead. Although wounded by the intense German fire, he repeatedly exposed himself to direct the defense of our foothold on the east bank until the counterattack was contained. He then crawled fifty yards leading his men to silence a machine gun that was strafing the street and killed seven of its crew. By his tactical skill and personal gallantry under heavy fire, Captain Mueller was responsible for successfully maintaining the bridgehead during the critical period of the attack.