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 [then Private First Class] Julius Karas (ASN: 36859212), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 333d Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Belgium, on 22 January 1945. When two Germans emerged from a machine gun position into which he had thrown a hand grenade and one of them was in the act of firing an automatic weapon at other members of his squad, Staff Sergeant Karas, after killing him with his rifle and holding the remaining German at the point of his bayonet, forced the surrender of four additional prisoners from the gun position and an enemy observation post. The initiative, aggressive fighting spirit and courageous conduct displayed by Staff Sergeant Karas reflect high credit upon himself and are in accordance with the finest traditions of military service.