The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Field Artillery) Thomas W. Selby (ASN: 0-1165257), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Battery, 862d Field Artillery Battalion, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 9 April 1945, in the vicinity of Buhlof, Germany. Captain Selby was serving as liaison officer with the Second Battalion, 254th Infantry Regiment, when it was counterattacked by a fanatical group of enemy officer candidates. The command group was well forward in order to control the action effectively and was, therefore, subjected to intense automatic weapons fire. Despite the fact that numerous casualties were suffered in his immediate area, Captain Selby repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire in order to control the artillery fire. His conspicuous self-devotion in a superior performance of duty is in keeping with the finest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.