Chapter 3, Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards)
25 February 1995

3-9. Silver Star

a. The Silver Star, section 3746, title 10, United States Code (10 USC 3746), was established by Act of Congress 9 July 1918 (amended by act of 25 July 1963).

b. The Silver Star is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Army, is cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for the Distinguished Service Cross, must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction.

75th Infantry Division Silver Star Medal Recipients

Name

Citation

Pfc. Daniel W. Kupsche

Private First Class Daniel W. Kupsche, 36 645 854, Company C, 290th Infantry, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations against the enemy on 24 December, 1944, in Belgium.  The attack near Manhay was delayed by intense enemy machine gun fire from a frontal wooded area.  Private KUPSCHE located the general direction of the hidden nest and slowly crawled toward it.  When he came near the nest, he deliberately stood up and exposed himself to its fire to ascertain the exact position of the gun and then lobbed a grenade into the nest, killing all of the crew and destroying the weapon and in so doing, enabled his platoon to advance on its objective.  Entered military service from Waukegan, Illinois.

Sergeant Luther R. Gordan

"...the Silver Star is awarded to ...LUTHER R. GORDAN, 39 289 892, Company K, 290th Infantry, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations against the enemy on 25 December 1944, in Belgium.  In the La Roumiere battle, near Hoy [Soy], fighting was heavy and as the ferocity of the attack mounted to its peak the enemy launched a powerful counterattack employing several battalions of infantry supported by tanks whose lethal charges were being fired at devastatingly close range.  After every member in his squad had either been killed or wounded, Sergeant GORDAN singly continued to man his machine gun in the face of heavily concentrated enemy fire.  Shortly thereafter he was painfully wounded in the left arm leaving it partially disabled.  Undaunted, this gallant soldier continued to deliver effective fire until all of his ammunition was exhausted.  Still refusing to withdraw he dashed to a nearby enemy captured machine gun position where he continued his deadly fire until reinforcements were brought up to stem the enemy attack.  The unflinching devotion to duty and gallantry of Sergeant GORDAN exemplify the highest traditions of the Armed Forces.  Entered military service from La Mesa, California.

Cpl. Richard F. Wiegand

- Citation for Cpl. Wiegand is needed -  The story of Cpl. Wiegand's heroism can be viewed here > "A Hero Remembered"