Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Sergeant

    Regiment:

    253d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    63d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    April 10, 1945

    Headquarters, 63d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 540 (August 16, 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 Sergeant Woodrow W. Shoemaker (ASN: 6261991), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Cannon Company, 253d Infantry Regiment, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 10 April 1945, in the vicinity of Lampoldshausen, Germany. Sergeant Shoemaker was in an observation post five hundred yards beyond the main line of resistance when he observed the enemy attacking in battalion strength. Using a telephone, he directed the fire of mortars, infantry canon, and artillery, temporarily stopping the attack. A second enemy thrust forced Sergeant Shoemaker to withdraw from his post when the enemy were within one hundred yards of his position. He aided a wounded man in this withdrawal and then reestablished his observation post at another point. Here, by his accurate fire direction, he was largely responsible for repulsing the second counterattack. The outstanding courage and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Shoemaker in this action reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the Armed Forces of the United States.