Citation Needed – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes Pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant [then Corporal] Wayne E. Van Dyke, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a gunner with Company B, 41st Tank Battalion, 11th Armored Division, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy at Noville. When is tank was knocked out by an 88, Sergeant Van Dyke was left in the town with a seriously wounded driver and bow gunner. The tank commander and loader went to the rear to direct other tanks around the town. Sergeant Van Dyke pulled the driver and bow gunner from the tank, dragged them over to a church wall, and played dead while German troops marched through the town. Sergeant Van Dyke sprawled on the driver who was suffering from shock. Once, a curious German came over to the apparently lifeless group and looked at the bow gunner’s wrist watch but didn’t touch him. After lying in this position for two hours, Sergeant Van Dyke brought the two men into the church and placed the driver, who was unable to go farther, near the altar. Having given him first aid, Sergeant Van Dyke and the bow gunner crawled back to their lines. The driver, in the meantime, was treated by a German medic and next day was rescued by his own men when they pushed into the town. Sergeant Van Dyke’s outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 11th Armored Division, and the United States Army.