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 Elmo V. Raney (ASN: 35811239), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the Anti-Tank Company, 242d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 12 January 1945, at Hatten, France, while occupying a prepared 57-mm. anti-tank gun position with the mission of defending a particular area against threatening enemy tank action, finding it impossible to bring effective fire to bear on advancing tanks from their position, Private Raney and the other members of the squad maneuvered the gun into three different exposed positions, from which they were able to destroy three enemy Mark IV tanks and to force the others to withdraw and to inflict casualties upon members of the crews who were trying to escape.