Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Staff Sergeant [then Private First Class]

    Division:

    24th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    November 11, 1944

    Headquarters, 24th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 7 (January 10, 1946)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant [then Private First Class] Paul E. Garland (ASN: 34432977), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 24th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy near Calubian, Leyte, Philippine Islands, on 11 November 1944. An infantry company was ordered to attack and seize a fortified and fiercely defended enemy strong point atop one of the grassy, rolling hills west of Calubian. As the platoon of which Staff Sergeant Garland was leading scout reached the crest of the hill, it was met by a withering barrage of fire from a Japanese machine gun about 100 yards away. The supporting Japanese riflemen fired and threw grenades at our advancing troops. The entire company was forced to seek cover from this intense fire, and the success of hits mission was seriously imperiled. Several men in the leading platoon crawled forward through the grass in an endeavor to knock out the machine guns with grenades, but before they could locate its exact position two of the men were killed and several other were wounded by its fire. In order to avoid sustaining further casualties without appreciably advancing its position, most of the company moved to cover behind the crest of the hill and prepared to maneuver for an attack by a different route. Realizing the gravity of the situation and that the hostile pressure on the company had to be relieved, Staff Sergeant Garland volunteered to knock it out alone. With complete disregard for his own safety under heavy enemy fire, and upon his own initiative, he crawled forward through the grass toward the gun, guided by the sounds of its firing. When he had come to within a few yards of the Japanese machine gun, he leaped to his feet and charged the enemy crew single-handed. He seized the machine gun and turning on the enemy crew, killed them all with one burst of fire from their own gun. He then brough the enemy weapon back to his company which quickly overran the rest of the enemy positions and seized the hill. Staff Sergeant Garlands extraordinary and daring act above and beyond the call of duty in the face of overwhelming odds, turned imminent failure into a quick victory, and enabled his company to capture its objective with a minimum loss of life and delay. His gallant and intrepid act at the risk of his own life won for him the admiration of all who knew of the deed, and is in the highest tradition of bravery of the combat infantryman of the United States Army.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Division:

    24th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    World War II

    Headquarters, 24th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 7 (1946)

    (UNCONFIRMED – Citation Needed): Paul E. Garland, United States Army, is reported to have been awarded the Silver Star under the below-listed General Orders for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with the 24th Infantry Division during World War II.