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 Thomas B. O’Neill (ASN: 39138105), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company G, 2d Battalion, 242d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 6 January 1945, at Gambsheim, France, Sergeant O’Neill and three other men were acting as machine gunners with elements of three companies which were attacking across an open field when they encountered strong enemy positions consisting of well prepared pillboxes, fortified houses, machine gun nests, mortars, and tanks. Caught in a terrific cross fire from machine guns and small arms and subjected to heavy bombardment from enemy artillery and mortars, with enemy forces attacking from the front and on both flanks, the troops were ordered to withdraw and form a new line. Disregarding the order to withdraw, Sergeant O’Neill and the other three men placed their two light machine guns into position, and, in the face of direct machine gun and 88-mm. fire from German tanks, delivered effective fire on the enemy, forcing them to stop and take cover, and successfully covering the withdrawal without the loss of a single man.