The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Virgil Raymond Goff (ASN: 36760340), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 97th Infantry Division, in action near Haslau, Czechoslovakia, on 25 April 1945. Advancing toward Haslau, a rifle platoon encountered heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire from a densely wooded area to its front. Private Goff, an automatic rifleman, with utter disregard for his own safety, left a covered position and alone advanced across approximately 50 yards of open terrain against the enemy locations. Although under direct hostile automatic weapons fire, he continued forward firing from the hip until he killed three of the enemy and captured two machine guns. Private Goff’s gallantry on this occasion enabled his company to continue its advance without loss and reflects high credit upon himself and the Armed Forces.