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 William H. Wise (ASN: 14091691), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 232d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 13 April 1945, near Dubendorf, [Deberndorf] Germany. Leading a motorized patrol into town, the vehicle in which Sergeant Wise, a squad leader, was riding encountered an advancing German tank which opened fire with its machine guns. Leaping to cover, Sergeant Wise discovered an enemy Panzerfaust beside the road and, although he had never fired the weapon, he directed it at the tank and destroyed it. With his rifle he then killed three enemy in dug-in positions. Directing his men to take cover in a nearby house, he withdrew under heavy enemy fire to one of his vehicles and obtained a radio. While one of his men carried the radio forward to the remainder of the squad, Sergeant Wise provided covering fire for him and killed two enemy. By his courage and devotion to duty, he destroyed a tank and five Germans and radioed for reinforcements who later captured 80 enemy.