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 James F. Nugent (ASN: 13022101), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 232d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 4 April 1945, at Wurzburg, Germany. During the fierce fighting for Wurzburg, Germany, when his squad encountered intense enemy machine gun, machine pistol, and small arms fire, Sergeant Nugent led his men to within fifty yards of the house which was the central point of enemy resistance. Rather than subject his entire squad to the heavy fire, he crawled across open terrain exposed to the enemy fire to a point within ten yards of the house. He then threw two grenades through a window and fearlessly charged into the house, finding three of the enemy fatally wounded and five others so stunned that he succeeded in taking them prisoner. By his indomitable courage and gallant action, a serious threat to his squad’s advance was eliminated without casualties.