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 Erschel B. Freed (ASN: 35270460), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with a Tank Destroyer Platoon of the 2d Armored Division, in action against the enemy. On 11 April 1945, the Tank Destroyer Platoon, of which Sergeant Freed was a member, was in a position near Schonbeck, Germany, overlooking the Elbe River. About an hour before darkness, three American soldiers appeared on the opposite bank in enemy territory. These men, members of the 30th Infantry Division, had been German prisoners and were trying to rejoin American troops after escaping. As they came near the river, they were challenged and fired on by German troops but they managed to reach a defiladed position at the river bank without injury. The Tank Destroyer crew provided covering machine gun fire and kept the Germans away from the Americans. Sergeant Freed and a companion, realizing that darkness would enable the enemy to slip up to the Americans, volunteered to use a nearby boat and rescue the three Americans. Nearly half of the river was visible to the Germans and they fired at the boat with small arms as it started across the river, but failed to hit either Sergeant Freed or his companion. The two soon returned with the three escaped Americans. The heroic action of Sergeant Freed undoubtedly prevented the recapture or death of three American soldiers. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.