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 Michael J. Pelc (ASN: 33321143), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on 27 December 1944 in Belgium. During the attack on Honville, Belgium, on 27 December 1944, the company in which Staff Sergeant Pelc was serving as machine gun section leader, was temporarily delayed and subjected to intense machine gun fire from a well dug in enemy emplacement. After attempts to destroy the position with rifle and automatic fire had failed, Staff Sergeant Pelc, voluntarily and with utter disregard for personal safety, crawled over one hundred yards of open terrain under severe hostile fire to assault the position single-handedly. His audacious act was responsible for the capture of five enemy soldiers and the rapid advance of his company toward the objective. Staff Sergeant Pelc’s aggressiveness, courage, and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.