The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technical Sergeant Russell C. Larson (ASN: 36000178), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 274th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division, on 8 March 1945, near Kerbach, France. When his platoon was held up, Technical Sergeant Larson, although under rifle grenade, mortar and machine gun fire, courageously moved forward and directed the final assault while not more than 10 yards from the nearest enemy gun position. On one occasion, when two enemy hand grenades landed within his reach, he picked them up before they could explode and threw them back into the enemy’s position. His quick thinking and excellent leadership were largely responsible for his platoon’s accomplishment of its mission.