The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Joseph A. Pinell, Jr. (ASN: 38197660), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 222d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 25 January 1945, near Schweighausen, France, when two members of his platoon, one of whom was wounded, attempted to cross the Moder River to return to their own lines but were too exhausted to get across, Private Pinell with two other men crossed 200 yards of open terrain under heavy enemy fire and after rescuing the exhausted men, returned to the river and brought back another wounded man. Finding that two members of the platoon were still missing, Private Pinell went with a patrol across the river and into the woods in an effort to locate the missing man but was forced to withdraw by intense enemy fire.