The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class William J. Griffiths (ASN: 35539837), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company M, 3d Battalion, 319th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on 8 January 1945 in Luxembourg. During an enemy counterattack at Dahl, Luxembourg, on 8 January 1945, tanks threatened the squad of which Private First Class Griffiths was acting squad leader. Private First Class Griffiths ordered his squad to withdraw to more covered positions as he manned the machine gun and drew the tank fire away from his men. When he realized that he was outflanked, he picked up the gun and started across open ground to rejoin his men, but was killed by machine gun fire from a tank. Such courage, leadership, and supreme devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.