The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Ollie B. Wickersham (ASN: ER-39415704), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 7 – 8 April 1945 near Hitdorf, Germany. Corporal Wickersham, Assistant Squad Leader, voluntarily crossed the Rhine River as an engineer boatman to attempt the rescue of some infantry soldiers isolated on the enemy shore. When the rescue boat reached the far shore, the party was fired on by Panzerfausts and machine guns. While other men headed the boat back into the river, Corporal Wickersham, with complete disregard for his own safety, remained and opened fire on the German positions, thus distracting the enemy and covering the embarking of the boat. Throughout the night he harassed the enemy by fire despite artillery and small arms fire directed against him. The following afternoon Corporal Wickersham swam across the Rhine River in daylight with disregard for his own safety. His devotion to duty and his gallant conduct and self-sacrifice reflects the highest credit upon the Airborne Forces.