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 John J. Gaus (ASN: 20651314), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 456th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 11 April 1945, near ****, Germany. When an Allied plane was shot down across the Rhine River, Private First Class Gaus unhesitatingly and single-handedly manned a light kayak and crossed the river to assist the surviving crew members. Upon reaching the far shore he was subjected to heavy machine-gun fire, but immediately returned the fire with his Thompson Sub-Machine Gun and made his way to the town of ****. In the face of increasing resistance, and after receiving wounds in the head and arm, he was finally forced to turn back to the river bank. En route to the river bank, and while under fire from the enemy positions, Private First Class Gaus flushed an enemy soldier from his hiding place and forced the German to accompany him eight hundred yards along the shore until he found a boat. When about fifty yards off-shore the boat started to sink, and Private First Class Gaus, with his prisoner, returned once more to the hostile shore and found another boat in which he successfully accomplished the return trip. This courageous action was performed in full daylight, and typifies the gallant traditions of the Airborne Forces of the United States Army.