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 [then Technician Fifth Grade] Arnold D. Landon (ASN: 20706405), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the Anti-Tank Company, *** Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, on ** November 1943, in the vicinity of *****, Italy. Staff Sergeant Landon and a fellow comrade were given the mission of clearing a lane through enemy “S” minefields, so that stretcher bearers and food could reach the forward elements of the ** Infantry Battalion, fighting in the hills northeast of *****. The Battalion was at the time fighting an enemy counter-attack and the area was under heavy enemy artillery, machine-gun and small arms fire. Staff Sergeant Landon, with utter disregard for his own personal safety and knowing that he could have waited until the artillery barrage had lifted, continued to work steadily on his assignment, at times in full view of the enemy. He and his comrade removed 23 of the dangerous mines, clearing a path 10 yards wide and one mile long which enabled stretcher bearers and food supplies to reach the Battalion safely. Staff Sergeant Landon’s courage and devotion to duty was exemplary and a credit to the Armed Forces of the United States.