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 Emmett M. Martin (ASN: 34520844), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 80th Infantry Division in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on 15 and 16 March 1945, in Germany. After elements of an infantry battalion had seized a portion of Weiskirchen, Germany, on 15 March 1945, telephone communications became imperative when these elements were surrounded. Private First Class Martin, as a member of a battalion wire team, volunteered to infiltrate the enemy lines and lay wire to the village. During the night and the following day the team made eight trips through the lines. On the first return trip, although discovered and fired on, they evacuated two seriously wounded soldiers and on another trip captured thirty-eight German soldiers. By maintaining communications to the beleaguered troops, Private First Class Martin and his companions played a large part in holding the town and battalion objective. His courage, aggressiveness, 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.