The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Thaddeus J. Wioch (ASN: 32170161), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 37th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy at Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 7 February 1945. While our forces were making an assault across a river under intense enemy bombardment, Private Wioch, a wire man, fully exposed himself to lay a communication wire line across the stream to our advance elements. On the opposite bank, Private Wioch, disregarding the danger, climbed a tree and completed an overhead line across the river. When that line was broken by enemy artillery fire, Private Wioch again volunteered and placed a second line across the river and into the same tree restoring vital communications. Both of these trips were made under heavy enemy artillery, mortar, machine gun and rifle fire with shell fragments and bullets piercing the tree in which he was working. Private Wioch’s extreme courage and great devotion to duty were an important factor in the success of the operation, and were an inspiration to the men around him. 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 and the United States Army.