The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class [then Private] William T. Dickens, Jr. (ASN: 6968865), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Anti-Tank Company, 242d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 13 April 1945, near Schweinfurt, Germany. As his squad completed placing their 57-mm. Anti-tank gun into position at a railroad crossing, Private Dickens noticed several enemy soldiers about 800 yards away. His squad immediately took them under small arms fire forcing them to flee. He then took five men with him to investigate another group of people further away, but as they identified the group as civilians, they moved on to observe machine guns firing nearby. Discovering five enemy 13-mm. machine guns holding up the advance of A Company, 222d Infantry, Private Dickens determined to destroy the installation from his position in its rear. Cutting down two Germans fleeing from a mortar concentration, Private Dickens was forced to move as a civilian disclosed his location to the enemy. Disregarding his own safety, he advanced to a position where he could fire into the enemy from 40 yards to their rear, although he was harassed by friendly fire. Private Dickens’ prompt and courageous action caused the Germans to believe they were surrounded and they therefore surrendered to the advancing company.