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 Staff Sergeant Walter L. Savage (ASN: 39087228), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 242d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 9 January 1945 at Hatten, France. When an enemy tank was stopped by a mine field near his position, Sergeant Savage volunteered to go out with a rocket launcher to destroy the tank. A machine gun set up to protect the tank opened fire on him, but he destroyed it and killed all of its crew with one rocket. Sergeant Savage then proceeded under heavy artillery and small arms fire to within 30 yards of the tank when he was mortally wounded by a direct hit from an 88 mm gun. His gallant action reduced a dangerous threat to his unit and was a splendid example to his comrades.