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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Hitoshi Yonemura (ASN: 0-535145), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Canon Company, 442d Regimental Combat Team, 91st Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 20 and 21 April 1945, in Italy. Second Lieutenant Yonemura was acting as forward observer for a rifle company in its attack against bitterly-resisting enemy forces in mountainous terrain. He continuously exposed himself to small arms fire in moving forward and discovering more advantageous positions from which to adjust maximum effective fire. Because of the accuracy of his adjustment, the company captured its first objective with minimum delay. An artillery preparation was then directed on the second objective, a hill opposite a valley. As the attacking platoon advanced into the valley, it was pinned down by enemy machine gun fire. The platoon immediately counterfired with his own machine guns. Second Lieutenant Yonemura, in his desire to give the maximum artillery support to the attacking platoon, remained upright behind a tree in a hail of grazing machine gun and small arms fire. Second Lieutenant Yonemura was killed in the act of giving artillery support to the attacking riflemen. His gallantry and devotion to duty exemplified the highest traditions of the American Soldier.