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 Sergeant] Stanley T. Wiles (ASN: 37481124), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 276th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division, on 13 March 1945, near Forbach, France. When a heavy concentration of enemy mortar and 88-mm. fire killed or wounded all but two members of his squad, Staff Sergeant Wiles crawled 50 yards under enemy machine gun and rifle fire to retrieve a Browning Automatic Rifle, and remained in position firing to hold off an enemy counterattack. Utilizing a wounded comrade to fill the clips, he continued to fire his weapon for over 45 minutes, single-handedly breaking up the enemy counterattack in his sector and inflicting heavy casualties.