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 Stanley J. Mroczkowski (ASN: 33462957), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 101st Airborne Division. On 5 January 1945 in the vicinity of Longchamps, Belgium, Private First Class Mroczkowski observed a company of enemy infantry supported by four tanks massing for a frontal attack. When the forward elements of the attacking party reached a hedgerow two hundred yards to the front gun, he opened fire with his light machine gun. After a few short bursts, the machine gun jammed beyond repair. In the face of superior machine gun fire from the enemy tanks, Private First Class Mroczkowski left his position and ran one hundred yards across open terrain to an adjacent position to secure another machine gun and returned to his original position. He resumed his fire accounting for thirty enemy dead and succeeded in holding up the progress of the attack until friendly artillery could be registered upon the enemy. This courageous act in the face of superior enemy forces contributed to the destruction or capture of the attacking enemy infantry company. His actions were in accordance with the military traditions of the United States.