The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Robert F. Duffy (ASN: 0-1283390), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 242d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 9 January 1945, at Hatten, France, while Lieutenant Duffy, without assistance, was covering the withdrawal of personnel from a burning building being attacked by the enemy, a grenade thrown by an enemy soldier who entered the building exploded at his feet stunning him. In spite of this, he remained at his post and killed or wounded all the members of the patrol. After determining that the remainder of his group had withdrawn, Lieutenant Duffy escaped from the building by jumping from a second-story window into a line of civilians who were being evacuated from the basement by the Germans, slipped by the German guards, and made his way to his battalion Commander.