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 Kevlin W. Smith (ASN: 33793751), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 242d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 9 January 1945, near Hatten, France, when the wire communications between two battalions were disrupted, Private Smith with other members of the crew repeatedly re-established communications by laying wire under intense enemy artillery and mortar fire.