William Randolph Mathews, Jr.

Colonel, U. S. Army

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, 90th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 63 (September 15, 1944)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) William R. Mathews (ASN: 0-500490), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with the 90th Infantry Division in Northern France.
On 18, 19, and 20 August 1944, in ****, France, Lieutenant Mathews was flying his liaison plane during a critical operation when supported troops were attempting to cross *** in order to obtain deeper reconnaissance of the enemy movements. He flew forward of friendly lines although frequently fired on by enemy machine guns which were holding up our lines by directing fire upon them; discovered an enemy column moving across country and destroyed 27 vehicles and many personnel forcing the remnants of the column to retreat into the woods.
Near ****, France, on 19 August he succeeded in destroying 21 vehicles although he was under fire from an enemy 20-mm anti-aircraft gun which tore holes in the fabric of his plane. Continuing on his mission, he blew up one ammunition truck, 1 tank and 31 vehicles were left burning from the fire of the artillery battalion for which he was observing. On 20 August, he continued long hours of observation, directing the fire of three separate battalions of artillery and destroying enemy columns and formations although on this date he came under anti-aircraft fire from an 88-mm. gun, which did considerable damage to his plane.
In three days of flying he spent 35 hours in the air directing the fire of his own and attached artillery battalions with great effect on the enemy.