By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Corporal Stanley Eugene Gnaster (ASN: 541726), United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the World War I Victory Medals awarded him. While serving with Company E, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, during the Meuse-Argonne offensive in the Bois de Cunel, on 12 October 1918, Corporal Gnaster was placed in command of a platoon which made an attack on a German machine gun nest. On two occasions his platoon, while under heavy artillery and machine gun fire, lost their formations and suffered many casualties. On both occasions he showed initiative, extraordinary coolness, bravery and marked leadership in withdrawing his platoon and re-forming his line. Again attacking, facing a withering fire, he gained his objective.