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 M. Lanam (ASN: 37703424), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 142d Engineer Combat Battalion, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 21 March 1945, near Ludwigswinkel, Germany. Sergeant Lanam was the leader of a squad of Engineers attached to Company A, 222nd Infantry, during its attack upon the Siegfried Line. Making his way over rough and thickly wooded terrain in the face of enemy mortar, machine gun and small arms fire to several German pillboxes, he placed explosive charges in the embrasures of each, silencing the guns within. By his skill and outstanding courage, Sergeant Lanam destroyed a number of enemy machine guns, enabling our infantry to continue its advance with a minimum of casualties and greatly contributing to the successful breaching of the Siegfried Line.