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 [then Sergeant] Louis J. Hirschman (ASN: 20723518), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company E, 2d Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action near **** Normandy, France, on 17 July 1944. During an attack by his company on Hill Number 122 in the operation against **** the platoon of Sergeant Hirschman was pinned down by machine gun fire from an emplacement in a hedgerow to its front. Sergeant Hirschman, a squad leader, voluntarily, alone, and under enemy small arms, machine gun, mortar and artillery fire, crawled across the open field to the enemy side of the hedgerow, where he threw a hand grenade into the enemy machine gun position, killing the gunner and silencing the weapon, enabling the platoon to advance. The gallantry, unselfish loyalty, tenacity of purpose, and disregard for personal safety displayed by Sergeant Hirschman reflects great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.