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 Nicholas Zalnerovich (ASN: 32884255), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action near ****, Normandy, France, on 16 July 1944. When his company was pinned down in front of Hill Number 74, Private Zalnerovich volunteered to observe fire for the 80-mm. mortars on an enemy strongpoint located in a house to their front. When his telephone wire became exhausted, and being unable to obtain the required observation at the end of the wire, he crawled under enemy machine gun fire into an open field some twenty-five yards beyond the hedgerow at the end of the telephone line. In order to relay his fire direction it was necessary for him to run the twenty-five yards from the phone to his position in the field and back. In spite of the obstacle presented by that fact, he directed accurate mortar fire on the enemy positions as well as two concentrations of artillery fire in a draw leading to the enemy position. His accurate direction of mortar and artillery fire resulted in the destruction of an enemy machine gun position, the withdrawal of another, and the destruction of a 47-mm. anti-tank gun, a rocket gun, and approximately a platoon of infantry. The tenacity of purpose, zealous devotion to duty and gallantry in action of Private Zalnerovich reflected credit upon his character as a soldier and is in accord with the high traditions of the military service.