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 James O. Goodwin (ASN: 39359586), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 89th Chemical Mortar Battalion, 79th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 25 March 1945 in Germany. Ordered to haul ammunition across the Rhine River to one of the companies of his battalion, which was in close support of infantry units, Sergeant Goodwin, ammunition sergeant, found that all traffic across the river had ceased due to intense enemy artillery fire and that the DUKW provided to carry the ammunition was badly damaged. Having ascertained that there was no actual restriction on DUKW crossing, he made two trips across the river ignoring both the enemy fire and the imminent possibility that the craft would sink. The courage and tenacity of purpose exhibited by Sergeant Goodwin reflect high credit on the Armed Forces of the United States.