The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technical Sergeant William H. Davis (ASN: 37187833), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with the 315th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division, on 10 October 1944 in France. When his platoon was deployed along a road side and became engaged in a fire fight with an enemy tank, supported by infantry the tank suddenly withdrew. A few moments later an enemy self-propelled cannon appeared from the opposite direction. The vehicle commander called out in perfect English telling the troops to surrender. All firing ceased and Sergeant Davis, sensing that friendly troops feared they were surrounded, grasped an automatic rifle and killed the English-speaking officer. Immediately firing re-commenced and the enemy were forced to withdraw. The gallantry and dauntless courage displayed by Sergeant Davis in an extremely tenuous situation reflect great credit on himself and the armed forces of the United States.