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 [then Private First Class] Jerry D. Wilson (ASN: 39694559), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 254th Infantry Regiment, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 2 January 1945, in the vicinity of Amerschwir, France. Sergeant Wilson voluntarily remained in his position to cover the withdrawal of his patrol when fired upon by superior enemy forces. He stayed alone under enemy fire until the last of the patrol had reached safety two hundred yards to the rear. He then exposed himself and, firing from the hip, withdrew. The gallant initiative displayed by Sergeant Wilson in this action reflects credit upon himself and upon the Armed Forces of the United States.