The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Ben M. Thompson, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Italy, on 30 January 1944. After the enemy had ambushed two Infantry outposts, Sergeant Thompson, in charge of a third outpost, moved alone in the direction of the firing. Seeing a platoon of Germans coming down a creek bed, he waited until they came within 20 yards of him, then engaged them in a fierce fire fight, killing five. Hastening back to his outpost, he maneuvered his Browning Automatic Rifle man to catch the approaching enemy from the flank. As they came within sight, Sergeant Thompson and his BAR man opened fire. They killed 15 and wounded many more, causing the others to withdraw in complete disorder. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, 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.