The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Edwin C. Petranek, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the 143d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action on 10 February 1945, in France. During an attack through a wooded area Lieutenant Petranek left his men in a covered position and moved forward alone to reconnoiter a clearing. Shortly after he left the tree line he was fired on and painfully wounded by an enemy machine gun. As enemy artillery shells began bursting in the area, he valiantly crawled forward and observed a cleverly concealed enemy road block. He returned to his men and directed small arms and tank destroyer fire on the position, eliminating the road block and enabling his men to continue forward. Lieutenant Petranek then gallantly remained with his company, refusing to be evacuated for medical treatment until he had led his men to their objective, reorganized the and planned its defense.