Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Regiment:

    242d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    42d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    January 12, 1945

    Headquarters, 42d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 13 (March 12, 1945)

    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 Leonard L. Place, Jr. (ASN: 31305790), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the Anti-Tank Company, 242d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 12 January 1945, at Hatten, France, while occupying a prepared 57-mm. anti-tank gun position with the mission of defending a particular area against threatening enemy tank action, finding it impossible to bring effective fire to bear on advancing tanks from their position, Private Place and the other members of the squad maneuvered the gun into three different exposed positions, from which they were able to destroy three enemy Mark IV tanks and to force the others to withdraw and to inflict casualties upon members of the crews who were trying to escape.