The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry), [then Second Lieutenant] Stanley R. Navas, United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on the night of 27 February 1944, in the vicinity of Sessano, Italy. Captain Navas led a combat raid of 30 men behind the enemy lines with the mission of capturing or killing the occupants of two farm houses who were presumably ranking German officers. Although he was hit by an enemy grenade which severed his left arm, Captain Navas successfully completed his mission, destroying an enemy observation post, two machine gun emplacements, and an estimated twenty Germans killed. The leadership and courage of Captain Navas are worthy of great praise.