The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Willard C. Hedge (ASN: 0-308959), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in the vicinity of ****, France, on 14 November 1944. When his platoon was pinned down by machine gun fire coming from a concealed enemy position, Lieutenant Hedge, a platoon leader, crawled forward across a distance of approximately sixty yards, and exposing himself with utter disregard for his own safety, hurled two hand grenades into the German emplacement, destroying the enemy gun and enabling his men to resume their advance. As he was endeavoring to return to his platoon, Lieutenant Hedge was killed. His intrepid daring and unselfish determination to assure the success of his unit’s mission reflect high credit upon his character and training as an officer.