Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    504th Parachute Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    82d Airborne Division

    Action Date:

    February 2, 1945

    Headquarters, 82d Airborne Division, General Orders No. 34 (March 17, 1945)

    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 First Class Louis H. Tuthill (ASN: 31276938), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 2 February 1945, near *****, Germany. Private First Class Tuthill, Bazooka Gunner, continually exposed himself to heavy machine gun and rifle fire in order to bring forward his bazooka to within 75 yards of an enemy pillbox against which he fired all available ammunition effectively. Private First Class Tuthill, upon expending all his bazooka ammunition, ran forward to within 25 yards of the pillbox and threw a Gammon Grenade near the firing slit, which resulted in the surrender of five Germans. Private First Class Tuthill then retrieved his squad leader’s Tommy-Gun, after he had been killed, and used it to its maximum of efficiency until this ammunition was also expended during a counterattack. He then took his Browning Automatic Rifle from a wounded gunner and continued to fire this, killing and wounding many of the enemy. Private First Class Tuthill’s coolness and bravery under fire and versatile use of numerous weapons played a great part in the success of his company and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the Airborne Forces.