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 Edward J. Powers (ASN: 39706682), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 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, Sergeant Powers, with another soldier, voluntarily went to the top floor of a building near the command post and, waiting until the vehicle was within 30 yards of the building and preparing to fire upon the command post, fired five rockets from a rocket launcher, hitting the enemy vehicle and setting it afire.