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 Private First Class Ernest C. Pugh (ASN: 34880358), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action in the Lameauffe Sector, Normandy, France, 12 July 1944. Private Pugh, a rifleman, was a member of a squad assigned the mission of covering the withdrawal of two platoons which had encountered flanking machine gun fire while advancing down a sunken road. After the platoons had successfully withdrawn, Private Pugh volunteered to cover the withdrawal of his own squad. As the last elements of his squad withdrew, enemy infantrymen rushed his positions. He succeeded in killing three of the enemy before he was himself killed. The gallant actions of Private Pugh, whose self-sacrifice enabled his comrades to withdraw from a precarious position, reflect the highest credit upon his character as a soldier and upon the military service.