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 Billy J. Edmundson (ASN: 37501955), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 16 April 1945, while serving with Company C, 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, in the vicinity of Furcoli, Italy. Company C had the mission of attacking German positions on a hill. Leading a squad in one of the assault platoons, Sergeant Edmundson advanced up the slope and was deploying his men when a German machine gun opened fire on the left. Through a hail of bullets this sergeant worked his way forward, ahead of his men, and threw a grenade into the enemy emplacement. Dazed by the concussion, the German gunner tried vainly to cut him down by Sergeant Edmundson rushed the position, firing as he charged. Although wounded in the heavy fire, he killed two Germans who manned the machine gun and destroyed the weapon. Returning to his men, he led them in the attack on the objective. Enemy fire was intense but this courageous soldier never faltered as he advanced up the hill. Then, at the head of his squad, Sergeant Edmundson entered a minefield, stepped on a mine and was seriously wounded. Lying on the ground, he shouted instructions to his men, pointing out targets and urging them on in the attack. Although seriously wounded and in great pain, Sergeant Edmundson fired rifle grenades with deadly accuracy at another hostile machine gun which was sweeping the hillside with heavy fire. He silenced this second machine gun and when his men had seized the objective they found that Sergeant Edmundson had killed four Germans in the machine gun position and has wounded five more in positions nearby. The gallant deeds of Sergeant Edmundson were a vital factor in the accomplishment of the company mission and his actions reflect the finest traditions of the military service.