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 Staff Sergeant [then Sergeant] Robert Oldham (ASN: 383119993), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 15 January 1945, in Belgium. Staff Sergeant Oldham, in order to capture a strongly defended building, left part of a squad in a house and then advanced through withering machine gun and sniper fire with the remainder of the squad to a position where the group was pinned down for a short time. Although they were subjected to heavy fire and they knew that the enemy was numerically superior, Staff Sergeant Oldham and his comrades dashed across the remaining distance to the building where they forced twenty-six of the enemy to surrender, thereby clearing a main enemy defense position. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Staff Sergeant Oldham, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.