The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Edward W. Butts (ASN: 14082872), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 2d Battalion, 222d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 25 January 1945 at Schweighausen, France, while assisting in the defense of the first platoon area, Private Butts located a caliber .50 machine gun and a caliber .30 light machine gun which could not be used in the defense of the area. Observing that there were no weapons on the left flank of the town, he organized two gun crews among volunteers and placed the guns in an exposed position on the hill to the left of the town from where they were able to deliver effective fire against the enemy advancing on the town. Later that morning Private Butts voluntarily drove a _ ton vehicle with a caliber .50 machine gun through heavy enemy small arms and mortar fire to the company command post, materially aiding in the defense of the village. That afternoon, when an intense enemy artillery barrage endangered his vehicle, Private Butts voluntarily left cover and without regard to the danger to himself, moved the vehicle under heavy fire to a safe place. While doing so he was wounded in the head and body by shell fragments from which he died the next day.