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 George E. Rice, Jr. (ASN: 37704749), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 410th Infantry Regiment, 103d Infantry Division. On 27 January 1945, during a house-to-house fight in Schillersdorf, France, Private Rice took command of a machine gun squad when his squad leader was wounded. Placing his squad in a safe position, he crawled forward alone, carrying his machine gun. Remaining in an exposed position, and disregarding bazooka and heavy machine gun fire, he knocked out the enemy bazooka with his accurate fire. Private Rice’s actions which enable his company to continue reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.