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 Eugene J. Addeo (ASN: 32997429), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 242d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 10 January 1945, near Hatten, France, when an enemy self-propelled assault gun was heard approaching the battalion command post where he was stationed at the time, Private Addeo, with another soldier, voluntarily went to the top floor of a building near the command post and, waiting until the enemy vehicle was within 30 yards of the building and preparing to take the command post under fire, fired five rockets from a rocket launcher, hitting the enemy vehicle and putting it out of action.