The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Private First Class Ernest W. Prussman (ASN: 31227157), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 8 September 1944, while serving with 13th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division, in action near Les Coates, Brittany, France. When the advance of the flank companies of two battalions was halted by intense enemy mortar, machinegun, and sniper fire from a fortified position on his left, Private First Class Prussman maneuvered his squad to assault the enemy fortifications. Hurdling a hedgerow, he came upon two enemy riflemen whom he disarmed. After leading his squad across an open field to the next hedgerow, he advanced to a machinegun position, destroyed the gun, captured its crew and two riflemen. Again advancing ahead of his squad in the assault, he was mortally wounded by an enemy rifleman, but as he fell to the ground he threw a hand grenade, killing his opponent. His superb leadership and heroic action at the cost of his life so demoralized the enemy that resistance at this point collapsed, permitting the two battalions to continue their advance.