The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain ((Infantry) Edward W. Clark (ASN: 0-377883), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 232d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 6 January 1945, at Stadtmatten, France. Captain Clark volunteered to accompany a force organized to rescue two platoons which were surrounded by the enemy. When one of the supporting tanks was knocked out by an enemy rocket launcher and the troops were pinned down by heavy sniper fire, Captain Clark braved the German barrage and led a detachment of infantry to the enemy positions, wiped them out, and enabled the attack to continue. By his courageous leadership and daring initiative, the two platoons were rescued, the town of Stadtmatten was recaptured, forty enemy were killed, and more than one hundred taken prisoner.