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 Wayne A. Lawson, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 45th Infantry Division on the FIFTH Army front in Italy during World War II. During the third major enemy attack on the Anzio beachhead, vital wire communications of Sergeant Lawson’s battalion were disrupted in several places by shell fire. Sergeant Lawson, a wire sergeant, assisted a wire corporal in repairing the breaks and restoring communications to the battalion. After approximately two hours under intense enemy shelling, during which Sergeant Lawson was wounded, these two men re-established the communications which were essential to the breaking up of the enemy attack. Sergeant Lawson’s courage and devotion to duty reflect high credit upon the Armed Forces.