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 First Lieutenant Kenneth C. Evans (ASN: 0-1314118), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 11 December 1944, in the vicinity of ****, Germany. During a heavy enemy counterattack, First Lieutenant Evans, machine gun platoon leader, acted as a mortar observer and directed effective mortar fire upon the enemy from his observation post. When small groups of the enemy infiltrated into the sector held by his company, he ceased directing fire missions for fear of injuring friendly troops. At risk of his life, he left the observation post and advanced under intense enemy small arms fire to a communications trench where he resumed the fight as a rifleman with the rest of the company. Though wounded and subsequently evacuated, First Lieutenant Evans courageous action and complete devotion to duty inspired the men around him and aided materially in the defeat of the enemy counterattack. His gallantry was in accordance with high military tradition.