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 Jose A. Sarabia (ASN: 36842118), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company L, 143d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action on 15 March 1945 in France. The men of Company L were halted by heavy fire from two enemy machine guns as they advanced to attack a town. Private First Class Sarabia, an automatic rifleman, was assigned the mission of attempting to flank and destroy the first enemy machine gun. Crawling forward about 40 yards to the left of the position, he opened fire and killed two Germans, neutralizing the machine gun. Despite the fact that he was the target for enemy machine gun, rifle and rifle grenade fire, he immediately moved toward the second gun. He advanced forward in the face of the enemy fire for 50 yards. Reaching a point 150 yards from the hostile machine gun he rose to a crouched position and, as bullets struck around him, dashed forward, firing his automatic rifle from the hip. In his bold charge toward the enemy position, Private First Class Sarabia killed a German officer, wounded the other member of the machine gun crew, and enabled his company to advance into the town. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.