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 Thomas G. Palomino (ASN: 39537599), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 10 October 1944, in Germany. While the mortar section in which Staff Sergeant Palomino was acting as Section Sergeant was firing in support of advancing troops, they were suddenly subjected to intense enemy mortar fire, which disrupted the telephone communication with the section’s forward observer. Aware of the importance of maintaining communication, Staff Sergeant Palomino obtained a radio and then crawled through heavy fire to an exposed position in front of his section. This enabled him to relay the fire orders from his observer to the section. Though shells burst as close as six yards to his position, Staff Sergeant Palomino remained steadfastly at his post directing his section’s fire until the enemy resistance was quelled. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Staff Sergeant Palomino, 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.