The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant William Ray Overman (ASN: 18077547), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 25 July 1944, in France. Sergeant Overman was serving as a squad leader with an infantry organization engaged in making an attack on the enemy. A hostile roadblock was encountered, and Sergeant Overman took his squad forward with the mission of neutralizing the opposition. When they reached the enemy position, they found five enemy tanks with supporting infantry. A group of the squad attacked with a bazooka, but were unsuccessful and the enemy upon discovering our troops opened up with considerable fire, which inflicted casualties on the squad. In order to enable his squad to escape, Sergeant Overman fearlessly attacked the tanks with a bazooka, single-handedly. Although Sergeant Overman gave up his life, his heroic actions saved the lives of several of his comrades and disclosed important positions of the enemy, thus providing his unit with information so vital to their plan of attack. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Sergeant Overman, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.