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 Vincent Prairie (ASN: 36672701), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 242d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 9 January 1945, near Hatten, France, when the wire communications between two battalions were disrupted, Private Prairie with other members of the crew repeatedly re-established communications by laying wire under intense enemy artillery and mortar fire.