The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Field Artillery), [then First Lieutenant] Harvey D. Patterson, Jr. (ASN: 0-1166805), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of the 391st Field Artillery Battalion, in action near Stoldberg, Germany, on 17 September 1944. Present with Company E, 36th Armored Infantry Regiment, as an artillery observer, he volunteered in an emergency to command an infantry platoon and lead it in battle. A strong German counterattack precipitated a retreat on his flanks, but he held his platoon together and delivered small arms fire on the Germans advancing behind tanks, at the same time directing accurate artillery fire. Captain Patterson and his group fought until completely surrounded, out of ammunition, and physically overpowered.