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 J. Byron Munger (ASN: 37772349), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 242d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 18 April 1945, at Furth, Germany. While swimming across the Regnita River through intense darkness after reconnoitering the city of Furth, Germany, Private Munger noticed that another member of the patrol was floundering badly in the deep water. Despite intense machine gun cross fire sweeping the river, he turned back and, grasping the drowning man, swam with him to the bank. He then assisted the weakened man across four hundred yards of open terrain through continuous sniper and machine gun fire to the safety of our lines. Private Munger’s exceptional courage and selfless devotion to his comrade undoubtedly saved him from certain death.