The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry) Harold F. Hoppe (ASN: 0-337654), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 13 September 1944. Captain Hoppe was serving as a member of an Infantry task force which succeeded in making a rapid advance deep into enemy territory. When heavy resistance was encountered, a vigorous fire fight ensued with the result that a large force of hostile troops were put to flight in disorder. In an effort to take full advantage of the victory, Captain Hopper and a few of his fellow soldiers climbed onto accompanying tanks and took up the chase. When the enemy was overtake, hand-to-hand fighting ensued, many of the hostile troops were killed, and a total of ninety prisoners of war were captured. In addition, the capture of a large city was made possible for the disorganized enemy was unable to plan any defense, so rapid was the course of the action. The aggressive initiative, fortitude, and high degree of esprit exhibited by Captain Hoppe reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Armed Forces.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Major (Infantry) Harold F. Hoppe (ASN: 0-337654), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on April 8, 1945, in Germany. While Major Hoppe was leading forward a task force composed of infantry and armored units, it was stopped by intense machine gun and rocket fire from an enemy strongpoint located in a building. Quickly forming a plan of action, Major Hoppe dismounted from his tank, picked up a mortar, and gallantly advanced under fire to a point only fifty yards from the enemy strongpoint where he put the weapon into action. His accurate fire, supplemented by artillery fire from the rear, quickly reduced the enemy’s resistance to the point where the position could be assaulted and neutralized. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Major Hoppe, 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.