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 (Cavalry) William R. Scheffer (ASN: 0-467099), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 692d Tank Destroyer Battalion, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 6 March 1945, near Cologne, Germany. In the assault of Cologne, the lead tank destroyer of Lieutenant Scheffer’s platoon was hit and set afire by an enemy self-propelled gun and the crew of the disabled destroyer were subjected to crossfire from enemy small arms. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Lieutenant Scheffer jumped from his destroyer and worked forward under heavy enemy fire and evacuated four wounded members of the crew. After bringing the wounded men to safety, he went in search of medical aid. Unable to locate any aid men, he rendered first aid to the wounded. When the injured men were placed in the care of medical aid men, Lieutenant Scheffer led the remainder of his platoon under relentless enfilade machine gun and small arms fire in continuation of the attack. As a result of Lieutenant Scheffer’s courageous leadership the lives of four of his crew members were saved.