The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Thomas W. Cantley (ASN: 0-1183824), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Battery B, 402d Field Artillery Battalion, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 21 and 22 March 1945 near Ludwigswinkel, Germany. As a field artillery observer, Lieutenant Cantley accompanied a rifle company in the assault of the Siegfried Line. During the course of the action, he saw a man hit twice by enemy fire and leaving his covered position advanced under heavy fire to reach the injured man and drag him to cover. Subsequently utilizing a sub-machine gun he fought off three attempts by an enemy demolition squad to destroy a vital bridge. Unable to return to his own radio, due to a heavy concentration of enemy fire, he used a combination of infantry and artillery radios to relay information to his artillery organization and successfully covered the withdrawal of the infantry unit. Only after the infantry had retired did he withdraw from his forward position. By his courage and devotion to duty he played a major role in the defense of the town of Ludwigswinkel against German counterattacks.