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 Edward B. Torres (ASN: 36699639), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Company C, 143d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 2 February 1945, in France. When his squad was pinned down during a night attack by machine gun fire from the first house on the edge of a town, Sergeant Torres, the squad leader, began crawling toward the hostile position. He immediately became the target for enemy fire and bullets struck all around him, but he continued forward until he was within 25 yards of the machine gun. He threw a hand grenade through the window from which the enemy weapon was firing. He then rose to his feet and rushed the house, firing his rifle and throwing hand grenades as he advanced. As he reached the door, an enemy soldier fired point blank at him from the doorway, but he returned the fire and killed the German. He then searched the house and found that the machine gun had been disabled, two of its crew killed and the other three wounded by his accurate fire. His outstanding gallantry and daring aggressiveness enabled his platoon to continue its advance. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.