The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Richard B. Roche (ASN: 0-1175506), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 230th Field Artillery Battalion, 30th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 14 April 1945, in Germany. When two vehicles loaded with four hundred rounds of high explosives were set on fire by hostile artillery fire, they presented a hazard to the remainder of the vehicles parked in the vicinity. First Lieutenant Roche immediately supervised the removing of all the trucks. Then, noticing that the kitchen truck was burning, he was extinguishing the flames when another fire started near an ammunition truck. Abandoning the kitchen truck and amid falling artillery and exploding shells of other burning ammunition trucks, he extinguished the blaze. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Roche, 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.