The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Wilmer T. Beck (ASN: 0-1175036), United States Army, for gallantry in action in northern France while serving with the 915th Field Artillery Battalion, 90th Infantry Division. During a counterattack on 6 July 1914, all communication lines with supporting artillery were blown out. Lieutenant Beck, Artillery Liaison Officer, on his own initiative and without regard for his personal safety, went alone through several hundred yards of intense artillery and mortar fire to find the breaks and to repair them. He then returned through the same fire and successfully directed his artillery to help break up four more successive counterattacks by infantry and tanks. His meritorious conduct was largely responsible for the battalion’s ability to hold its ground.