The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) William B. Zeller (ASN: 0-220215), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 232d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 5 January 1945, Lieutenant Colonel Zeller personally took command of a fighting force which was organized from a nucleus of seventy men from an Engineer Battalion and led it in an attack on the enemy at Gembsheim, France. When the force was held up by heavy enemy artillery and small arms fire, Lieutenant Colonel Zeller led a small detachment of men and two tanks to envelop the enemy’s left flank in an effort to drive him out of Gembsheim. The detachment successfully entered the town but because of heavy enemy fire the tanks were compelled to withdraw leaving him without support. Lieutenant Colonel Zeller was reported missing in action.