The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry) Oliver M. Smith, United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with a military operation against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters Company, 387th Infantry Regiment, 97th Infantry Division. Near Hennef, Germany, on 8 April 1945, Captain Smith volunteered to lead a patrol to lay wire from a forward observation post to a battalion command post over a route know to be under heavy machine gun fire. Captain Smith’s advance to the observation post was halted on three occasions by enemy fire falling as close as 25 yards but, on each occasion, he proceeded to the accomplishment of his mission. Arriving at the observation post, Captain Smith fearlessly exposed himself to fire and, with bullets falling and ricocheting all about him established a wire point. Returning over the same route with his position being constantly given to the enemy by the noise of the wire reel, Captain Smith was subjected to heavy enemy machine gun fire over the whole course of one-quarter mile. His gallantry on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces.