Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Field Artillery)

    Batallion:

    863d Field Artillery Battalion

    Division:

    63d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    March 19, 1945

    Headquarters, 63d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 282 (June 25, 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 First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Jesse L. Ott (ASN: 0-1179992), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters, 863d Field Artillery Battalion, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 19 March 1945, in the vicinity of Ommersheim, Germany. Lieutenant Ott served as a forward observer with Company A, 255th Infantry Regiment, during the attack on the Siegfried Line. Throughout the day, the company’s positions were subjected to extremely heavy enemy artillery fire. During an intense barrage, two infantrymen were severely wounded. Lieutenant Ott exposed himself to enemy artillery and machine gun fire in order to render first aid and move them to the shelter of a pillbox. Later in the day, Company B was held up by intense enemy machine gun and small arms fire from two pillboxes. When a direct hit by an artillery shell destroyed the radio used by Company B’s forward observer, Lieutenant Ott directed fire on the pillboxes and succeeded in destroying them, enabling Company B to reach its objective. Lieutenant Ott repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire in order to observe fire on enemy positions. Lieutenant Ott’s magnificent courage and gallantry in the face of heavy enemy fire are in keeping with the finest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.