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) Thomas M. Michaels (ASN: 0-1823328), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with the 90th Infantry Division in Northern France. On 17 August 1944 in the vicinity of ****, France, while on the mission of supervising the delivery of ammunition he encountered an enemy tank firing through an opening in a hedgerow. Although the area was under small arms fire, Lieutenant Michaels worked his way into a position from which he was able to throw two hand grenades into the open turret and silence the tank. His coolness and gallantry displayed qualities of courage, aggressiveness and determination in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.