The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Captain (Infantry), [then First Lieutenant] Reginald Benjamin Desiderio (ASN: 0-1301272), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving the Company C, 275th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division. On 8 January 1945, at 1400 Hours, near Phillipsbourg, France, Captain Desiderio, leading a four-man reconnaissance patrol, came across eight enemy digging in new mortar positions. Upon being discovered the enemy opened up with machine gun fire, delaying the patrol. Ordering his men to withdraw, Captain Desiderio slowly crawled forward until within sixty yards of the enemy and fired two grenades from his carbine, destroying the gun and killing one German. Then engaging the enemy in a firefight, he killed one and wounded three others before withdrawing back to the company for mortar and artillery aid. Captain Desiderio’s actions, without regard for his own safety, reflect great credit on himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.