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 Fred L. Dawson (ASN: 6276399), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 242d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 9 to 11 January 1945, at Hatten, France. During the three-day period in which fanatical enemy troops made a final desperate attempt to retake Alsace, Sergeant Dawson personally organized the entire Command Post guard. In the face of heavy enemy small arms, machine gun, mortar, and artillery fire, and direct fire from tanks, he made reconnaissances for new positions when the old ones became untenable. On the afternoon of 10 January, when a tank and personnel carrier approached the Command Post, Sergeant Dawson knocked out the tank with a bazooka round, and with the small patrol held off the troops. Throughout the entire fifty-two hours of savage fighting, he worked untiringly in maintaining guard, treating wounded, and when ordered to withdraw, personally checked each post to see that his men had returned to friendly lines. Sergeant Dawson’s indomitable courage and unflinching determination played a major role in repulsing the vicious enemy attack.