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 Wilbur P. Lamberth (ASN: 38075998), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action in the vicinity of ****, Normandy, France, 11 July 1944. Private Lamberth volunteered as a member of a four-man patrol assigned the mission of destroying an enemy machine gun position which was emplaced in a hedgerow and retarding his company’s progress. After advancing through an artillery barrage, the patrol reached the enemy position, where Private Lamberth threw two hand grenades to kill two and wound two others of the enemy machine gun crew. As the patrol was returning to its organization with the wounded prisoners, an enemy artillery barrage killed both the prisoners and the other three members of the patrol, and seriously wounded Private Lamberth. Too seriously wounded to crawl to his own lines, and because assistance could not reach him, it was necessary that he remain in the open field for twenty hours before evacuation. The gallantry in action and devotion to duty on the part of Private Lamberth is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.