The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Corps of Engineers) Antonin M. Sterba (ASN: 0-423710), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 105th Engineer Combat Battalion, 30th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 2 October 1944, in Germany. On the first day of the assault upon the Siegfried Line, units of his battalion were engaged in erecting bridges across the Wurm River for the crossing of Infantry troops. While visiting these bridge sites, Major Sterba learned that his men were having difficulty getting the equipment into place as both the approach and the bridge site were under enemy artillery and small arms fire. Despite the danger involved, he took personal charge of the construction at one of the sites, and remained there until the bridge was completed. Upon completion of construction, Major Sterba then went to another bridge site and found the same situation existed. Again he took charge of the construction, remaining under fire until the bridge had been completed. Throughout the day he visited first one engineer working party and then another, all of which were under heavy enemy fire, in order to definitely determine that the roads and bridges were being maintained and that traffic was moving as scheduled. The bravery, aggressive determination, and exemplary leadership exhibited by Major Sterba reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Armed Forces.