(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: First Lieutenant (Infantry) Donald Crane (ASN: 0-1015492), United States Army, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force during World War II.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Donald Crane (ASN: 0-1015492), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 781st Tank Battalion, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 6 January 1945 near Gambsheim, France. Lieutenant Crane was the commanding officer of a platoon of tanks during an attack across the flat open terrain between Kilstett and Gambsheim in support of Company L, 232d Infantry. After advancing approximately 1500 yards, the infantry elements of the attacking group had been reduced by casualties to only six. Although the tank column had lost radio contact with the supported infantry, Lieutenant Crane, decided to continue the assault with the tanks and the six remaining infantrymen. Attacking in the face of intense enemy artillery, anti-tank and automatic weapons fire, the tanks and the six infantrymen knocked out an enemy pillbox, captured and released fourteen friendly troops who had been trapped by the enemy. Lieutenant Crane’s courageous leadership in continuing the attack was a major factor in containing the enemy bridgehead in the vicinity of Gambsheim.