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] Raymond J. Van Trieste (ASN: 33320671), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 305th Engineer Battalion, 80th Infantry Division, in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on 24 December 1944 in Luxembourg. Staff Sergeant Van Trieste, commanding a platoon of combat engineers, was on a liaison mission near Oberfeulen, Luxembourg, on 24 December 1944, when he was caught in an extremely heavy enemy artillery and rocket barrage and was rendered unconscious by a dangerously close burst. Regaining consciousness, although having internal injuries, he reported back to the Battalion Command Post. Hiding his extreme pain when he was immediately assigned to clear a mine field on the front lines prior to an infantry attack, he completed his mission under heavy enemy shelling and raking machine gun fire, after which he again reported to the command post, where, utterly exhausted and in extreme pain, he collapsed and was evacuated. His courageous leadership and sincere devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.