The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Manuel M. Contreras (ASN: 39280329), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division, in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on 3 April 1945 in Germany. On that date, Private First Class Contreras, an automatic rifleman, accompanied his squad in a flank attack against enemy machine gun positions which delayed the company advance near Kassel, Germany. Having been detected in its move the squad was fired on by machine gun and automatic weapons forcing it to take cover. Private First Class Contreras and his squad leader, disregarding the withering fire, advanced directly into the enemy position and by assault fire killed six of the enemy and relieved their squad for a continued attack in which twelve enemy soldiers were killed and thirty-five were captured. Private First Class Contreras’ courage, aggressiveness, and loyal 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.