The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private Arlington C. Raymond (ASN: 42114950), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 142d Engineer Combat Battalion, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 3 April 1945 at Wurzburg, Germany. As a member of an assault boat crew, Private Raymond participated in numerous crossings of the Main River in the face of intense artillery, machine gun, and small arms fire. On his final return trip, due to casualties among crew members, he loaded his boat with prisoners and ordered them to paddle back. Midway in the stream, machine gun fire struck some of the prisoners and demoralized the others to such an extent that control of the boat was lost and it started to drift into enemy territory. In an attempt to save the boat so vital to the mission, Private Raymond leaped into the water, attempting to swim and push the boat to the friendly shore. Though fatigued and weary and under intense fire, he labored to propel the boat until exhaustion overcame him and he disappeared from sight. Private Raymond’s great courage and heroic gallantry were instrumental in establishing the bridgehead and instilled in his comrades the determination that contributed to the eventual capture of Wurzburg.