The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Masaharu Takeba (ASN: 30101509), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate), attached to the 34th Infantry Division, on 7 January 1944, in the vicinity of Cervaro, Italy. Sergeant Takeba, acting as Platoon Sergeant led his men in occupying part of the north end of Hill 1109, without knowing that the enemy was on the top of hill approximately 200 yards away. With excellent observation the enemy immediately delivered heavy mortar, machine gun and rifle fire on Sergeant Takeba and his platoon. One of his men was hit by an enemy sniper and seriously wounded. Notifying his second-in-command that he was going to advance forward and at the same time take the wounded man to cover, he instructed the platoon to cover his advance. With utter disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Takeba ran over the open terrain to his wounded comrade Although bullets were flying all around him, Sergeant Takeba picked up the man and carried him 75 yards over exposed rocky terrain to a covered position. By his heroic deed in the face of heavy enemy fire, Sergeant Takeba saved the life of his comrade who undoubtedly would have been killed if left on the open terrain exposed to further enemy fire. The coolness, courage and excellent leadership of Sergeant Takeba was highly commendable and in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service.

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 Sergeant Masaharu Takeba (ASN: 30101509), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate), attached to the 34th Infantry Division, on the night of ** November 1943, in Italy. Sergeant Takeba was one of three men acting as Scouts for a combat patrol having the mission of clearing an area known to contain enemy machine-gun positions. When the Scouts, advancing ahead of the patrol, discovered a German ammunition carrying party, Sergeant Takeba immediately fired his rifle at the enemy, allowing another Scout to throw a hand grenade which dispersed the enemy, and the three Scouts took two prisoners. Advancing forward again, they were fired on by a German machine pistol. Again, Sergeant Takeba returned the fire, deliberately drawing the enemy fire so that his comrades could work their way close to the enemy and dispose of them with grenades. The enemy abandoned the position. Using the same tactics, Sergeant Takeba and his comrades quickly silenced two more enemy machine-gun positions, captured five more prisoners, and assisted the patrol in silencing a third gun position. Sergeant Takeba’s courage and resourcefulness was highly meritorious and a credit to the Armed Forces of the United States.