The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain (Armor) George T. Rodgers, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 16 April 1945, near Zula, Italy. Captain Rodgers was in command of a tank Company of the 757th Tank Battalion, 91st Infantry Division, that was part of a tank-infantry combat team whose mission was to push forward against a strongly fortified enemy to seize the town of Zula, Italy. Captain Rodgers led his company into battle and boldly engaged the enemy force. His tank inflicted severe casualties on enemy troops as he pressed the attack and enabled our ground forces to advance. Suddenly his tank was hit and set ablaze by enemy bazooka fire and he and the rest of the crew were forced to abandon the tank in the face of severe small arms fire. Captain Rodgers gave no heed to his own personal safety and rather than take immediate advantage of an opportunity to escape back to friendly lines, he willfully stayed near the tank to give first aid to one of his crew who was severely burned. Enemy forces continued to cover the area with withering machine gun and rifle fire until both Captain Rodgers and the wounded crew member were killed. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Captain Rodgers, 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.