The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Raymond A. Slocum (ASN: 32037037), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 25 December 1944, near ****, Belgium. Sergeant Slocum, Squad Leader, was second in command of an engineer mine laying party whose mission was to prepare a substantial anti-tank road block. A 120-mm. mortar shell landed in the party, killing the officer in charge and seriously wounding all the men except one. Sergeant Slocum, although wounded by shrapnel in the leg, took charge of the situation immediately, sent back three of the seriously wounded, gave what first aid he could to the other wounded men and laid the road block himself with no protection or covering party and with only one man to help him. Sergeant Slocum’s leadership and his resolution to carry out his squad’s mission with utter disregard for his own personal safety contributed greatly to halting the enemy armored attack. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.