The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Charles W. Newell (ASN: 13060621), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 242d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 11 January 1945, at Hatten, France, Sergeant Newell volunteered to clear a path to a barn in order to evacuate 50 men from a house which was subjected to heavy 88-mm. and machine gun fire from an enemy tank. Upon exiting from the barn, Sergeant Newell and two other soldiers encountered a number of Germans, many of whom they killed and wounded, and the remainder of whom fled, clearing the way for the escape from the building of our men.