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 [then Private First Class] Paul T. Hasegawa (ASN: 30100590), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion, 92d Infantry Division, in action on 21 April 1945, in Italy. When an enemy sniper took aim upon his platoon leader, Sergeant Hasegawa, at a point 300 yards away wounded the sniper and saved his platoon leader’s life. This was the initial shot of the fierce firefight that raged for the next hour, during which time the enemy used a multiple of weapons and hand grenades to ward off the attackers. The forward squad came under danger of this heavy fire and brought on them and he, sensing the danger, went forward under machine gun and sniper fire to a point within 20 yards of the house where 17 enemy were. His presence was picked up and the enemy hurled 20 grenades at him but uninjured, he closed in right next to the house and delivered fire at the doors and windows enabling the squad to move in and take the house. Sergeant Hasegawa’s action under extreme combat hazards was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army.