Major Thomas H. Wells (Army Serial Number O392480) Infantry, while serving with the Army of the United States, distinguished himself by gallantry in action in connection with military operations against the enemy on 19 September 1944, in the area of Sillegny, France. In the assault on the highly fortified Metz sector, Major Wells' battalion had the difficult and dangerous mission of capturing the town of Sillegny. In addition to numerical superiority, the enemy had a precise knowledge of every detail of the surrounding terrain, having used it for four years as a proving and training ground for a nearby officer candidate school. The first attack upon the town was thrown back by concentrated artillery fire. During the second attack in the early hours of the morning, both the battalion commander and the executive officer were mortally wounded as they attempted to charge a line of enemy pillboxes. Though faced by withering frontal fire from automatic weapons, Major Wells with complete disregard for his own safety, reconnoitered the enemy positions and formulated a plan for a renewed assault on the enemy fortifications. Relentlessly, he pressed forward under heavy enemy artillery and succeeded in reaching the heart of the town. While attempting to remove a road block, Major Wells met his death. The epic gallantry of Major Wells in leading his troops agains almost impregnable enemy positions will be remembered by the remnants of the battalion who survived the assault of Sillegny.

NOTE: Page 13 of his IDPF contains the following in paragraph 2a:
Officer who prepared citation for award of Silver Star for Major Thomas H. Wells was Killed in Action 3 November 1944, therefore it cannot be ascertained what was meant by that part of citation as reads: While attempting to remove a road block, Major Wells met his death.

7th Armored Division Association Historian Wesley Johnston evaluation:

1. The only 7AD officer killed 3 Nov 1944 was 2nd Lt. Leslie O. Fulton, CO of the Anti-tank Platoon of Company "A" 38th Armored Infantry Battalion. Thus it appears that AT/A/38 was involved in the action at Sillegny when Thomas Wells was killed. Another explanation would be that since so few 38 AIB officers on the line on 19 Sep 1944 survived the day, Lt. Fulton may have been the only officer available to research and write the citation. He was not the senior officer present, since at least one (1st Lt. Carl K. Mattocks) more senior officer was present.
2. 1st Lt. Carl K. Mattocks, CO of the Assault Gun Platoon of 38 AIB's Headquarters Company was in the field near the main road junction in his assault gun when (he told Wesley Johnston) a 155mm artillery round came in and he ducked into his turret, seeing Thomas Wells near the crossroads at about where the tennis courts were constructed after the war (Mattocks had visited Sillegny after the war). When he stood back up in his turret after the round had landed, Mattocks never saw Wells again.