The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant William H. McCracken (ASN: 32847001), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with the 299th Engineer Combat Battalion on 21 December 1944, in Belgium. Under cover of darkness the enemy emplaced two machine guns at the rear of Sergeant McCracken’s platoon, blocking the only avenue of escape. At great risk, he crawled alone toward the Germans. After ascertaining the location of the guns which were firing upon him, he placed effective rifle fire upon the emplacement, killing both members of one gun crew and forcing the second crew to withdraw.