The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Technician Fifth Grade William F. Smith (ASN: 39619420), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, *** Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action in the vicinity of ****, France, on 11 November 1944. In the assault against ****, the terrain afforded the strategically placed enemy machine guns excellent fields of fire, so that Company A, *** Infantry Regiment was pinned down by the intense cross-fire of these enemy weapons. Acting upon his own initiative, Technician Smith, a rifleman, accompanied by a comrade, maneuvered himself to a position on the flank of one of these enemy machine gun emplacements and killed its crew. This gallant action, performed in the face of heavy enemy fire, enabled the company to continue upon its mission. Technician Smith was killed in a later action. His courage, devotion to duty, and zeal for the successful accomplishment of his unit’s mission are in accord with the military traditions of the United States.