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 Charles R. Thomas (ASN: 38324790), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy at Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 26 February 1945. Sergeant Thomas, while leading an automatic rifle team into the heavily fortified Legislative Building in Manila, saw that one of his men was wounded by machine gun fire emanating from a pillbox at the end of a corridor. Exposing himself to the fire of this machine gun, Sergeant Thomas picked up the fallen man’s rifle, and, despite a leg wound, continued to divert the hostile fir with such accuracy that the evacuation of the casualty was successfully accomplished. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Sergeant Thomas, 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.