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 Ernest M. Stewart (ASN: 39117029), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 27 September 1944, near ****, Holland. Private Stewart, rifleman, accompanied a ten-man combat patrol sent out from Company E to destroy a camouflaged enemy tank which had pulled into a position that seriously menaced the defensive organization of his company. Heavy small arms fire halted the patrol when it approached to within 100 yards of the enemy vehicle. Private Stewart and his sergeant squad leader volunteered to flank the enemy position and attempt to knock out the tank with Gammon Grenades. In their forward movement up a ditch, they were confronted by a large group of Germans in an adjoining ditch. When the enemy was called upon to surrender, it opened fire, but Private Stewart and his comrade immediately returned fire with grenades, killing four of the enemy and wounding several others. Their supply of grenades exhausted, they then returned to the remainder of the patrol for more and resumed their two-man attack on the enemy still in the ditch. After several grenades had been tossed into the enemy position, the white flag of surrender was raised. The sergeant was covering the Germans filing out of the ditch when four tried to escape over the rear embankment, but Private Stewart and his accomplice immediately cut them down with rifle fire. During all this action, the remainder of the patrol which had successfully engaged the enemy tank with the assistance of a British tank brought forward, moved up and assisted the two men in gathering the prisoners. Twenty-five were captured, fifteen were wounded, and twenty more were killed. In addition, a great store of enemy material was captured, including two flame throwers, twelve machine pistols of most recent origin, one anti-tank gun, and numerous bazookas and grenades. Private Stewart’s courageous actions and aggressive conduct made vital contributions to his patrol’s outstanding accomplishments, thereby reflecting great credit on the armed forces.