The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Ephraim O. Norman (ASN: 17148529), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 232d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 8 April 1945 near Arnstein, Germany. While on a reconnaissance mission in a jeep, Corporal Norman came under heavy small arms fire from a group of houses on the outskirts of the town. Directing automatic fire at the houses from two heavy machine guns jeeps with him, Corporal Norman proceeded under fire to the first house and returned with nine prisoners. He was then fired on from a railroad underpass. Corporal Norman proceeded to the underpass firing as he went, and persuaded thirty more of the enemy to surrender. His aggressive action and coolness under fire was responsible for the capture of thirty-nine of the enemy and permitted the reconnaissance to continue unmolested by enemy fire.