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 [then Private First Class] Willard G. Ross (ASN: 36966406), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 255th Infantry Regiment, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 15 February 1945, in the vicinity of Bliesbrucken Woods, France. Sergeant Ross, as messenger and only means of communication remaining, left the forward elements to obtain support for his platoon. Due to intense enemy automatic and sniper fire, he was unable to return to his platoon leader. Scorning failure, Sergeant Ross yelled messages to him and relayed messages received. Later in the day, he took a litter, went to the aid of a wounded man and, although pinned down by machine gun fire for thirty minutes, succeeded in evacuating him. His outstanding gallantry and unselfish devotion to duty are in accord with the finest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.