The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private Franklin W. Van Nest (ASN: 37068115), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 222d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 26 January 1945 near Neubourg, France. Private Van Nest was a member of a night patrol whose mission it was to halt enemy infiltration and re-establish the Battalion main line of resistance. When contact was made with the enemy, the patrol was subjected to intense mortar and small arms fire, in the course of which Private Van Nest was wounded twice. Declining to be evacuated for medical treatment, he remained at his position, firing his automatic rifle so effectively that he inflicted several casualties on the enemy until he was hit a third time by a mortar fragment and mortally wounded. By the sacrifice of his life, he enabled his patrol to complete its mission.