The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Frank Diaz, Jr. (ASN: 34057891), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 222d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 6 January 1945 at Gambsheim, France, while assisting in the deployment of his squad, Sergeant Diaz was wounded in the back by mortar fragments. Ignoring his wounds, he continued to assist his squad leader until the latter was wounded, when Sergeant Diaz took command of the squad and helped move the wounded. When ordered to withdraw, he remained at the railroad station until all the wounded had been carried to the basement , after which he directed the withdrawal of the squad to a new position.