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 Elmer Simon Ward (ASN: 0-1883477), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 143d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Italy, on 22 January, 1944. When his Infantry Battalion was ordered across a river in Italy to establish a bridgehead, Staff Sergeant Ward, then a platoon sergeant, led his men across a narrow foot bridge constantly subjected to enemy artillery, mortar and small arms fire and advanced with them to a point 250 yards beyond the river bank. Temporarily halted by barbed wire entanglements, covered by enemy machine gun fire, he ordered the wire cut and skillfully directed his platoon through the entanglements. The quickly mounting casualties caused by concentrated fire from the strongly defended enemy positions and explosion from well-placed mines made efficient organization difficult; but, realizing the necessity for consolidating the depleted forces into an effective firing and fighting unit, he moved among the men, reorganizing them to renew the attack. Throughout the day, while most of the troops were pinned down by the furious fire, he continued to direct his men in an effort to maintain control of the company at a time when most of the officers and noncommissioned officers had been killed or wounded. He prevented disorganization of the company and led them effectively against the enemy. Staff Sergeant Ward’s gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 143d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in