The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Almas E. Defoyd (ASN: 38397215), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 232d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 15 March 1945 near Reipertswiller, France. When the other members of his rifle squad had either been wounded or pinned down by the intense enemy mortar and machine gun fire during the attack on Hill 301, Sergeant DeFoyd assaulted the enemy machine gun position alone. Although hit in the arm, he continued his assault until both his hands were badly injured by mortar fragments. He then carried one of his more seriously wounded comrades to the aid station, and after receiving medical attention, he returned to the top of the hill to care for the remainder of his men. Sergeant DeFoyd’s gallant courage and selfless determination to aid his comrades was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army.