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 Gurdon R. Gould, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 24th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy near Waibron-Bano, Dutch New Guinea, on 14 May 1944. Sergeant Gould, a member of a three man patrol on a reconnaissance of an area through difficult jungle terrain, to determine whether or not groups of the enemy might still be in a position to menace an engineer working party in the vicinity in the vicinity, encountered a group of 14 armed Japanese soldiers. With utter disregard for his personal safety, by swift and efficient employment of limited fire power, he assisted in systematically annihilating the enemy group by concentrating fire on those attempting to throw hand grenades. The skillful and rapid planning, and the perfect execution of the plan by Sergeant Gould are worthy of the highest traditions of the military service.