The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Ernest Rixe (ASN: 39208409), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 242d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 9 January 1945, at Hatten, France, Sergeant Rixe, who had come to his company command post through heavy small arms and artillery fire to deliver vitally needed supplies, picked up a blanket and threw himself bodily upon a number of incendiary grenades which had been thrown into the room by assaulting enemy infantry, as a result of which the grenades were extinguished. Following this, Sergeant Rixe killed four enemy soldiers with his carbine as they successively attempted to enter the room.