The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Leo Duhamel (ASN: 6144195), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 13 January 1945, in Belgium. Staff Sergeant Duhamel led his squad through heavy automatic fire to overrun an enemy strongpoint located in a house. Four friendly tanks, not knowing that the house had been captured, began pouring a deadly fire into it very nearly killing Staff Sergeant Duhamel’s squad and shaking them by the concussion. Staff Sergeant Duhamel, risking the danger of being killed by the fire from the tanks, immediately ran out into an intense concentration of enemy artillery and mortar fire to make the tank crews aware of their mistake. His heroism and gallantry saved his squad from death or injury. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Staff Sergeant Duhamel, 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.