The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technical Sergeant [then Staff Sergeant] Richard E. Woodhams (ASN: 42023456), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 253d Infantry Regiment, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 8 April 1945, in the vicinity of Herbelsheim, Germany. Disregarding heavy machine gun and artillery fire, Sergeant Woodhams crawled to an enemy machine gun nest that was endangering the company’s right flank and silenced it with rifle fire and grenades. This action enabled his machine gun section to reach comparative safety in the cover of a building and eliminated a serious threat to the company’s flank. The courage and gallantry under fire of Sergeant Woodhams reflect high credit upon himself and are in keeping with the finest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.