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 George K. Sato (ASN: 39913340), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company H, 2d Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 36th Infantry Division, in France. On 15 November 1944, a reconnaissance patrol of twelve men from the Third Battalion found itself pinned down in a clearing by two enemy machine guns, mortars and small arms fire. Sergeant Sato, heavy machine gun section leader, observing from his Observation Post the predicament of the patrol which had already suffered six casualties, and was in danger of complete extermination, unhesitatingly moved one of his machine guns to the edge of the woods, sacrificing security for effectiveness of fire. Ordering his men to take cover, he turned his weapon upon one of the enemy machine guns and killed its entire crew of three. Disregarding the hail of bullets which he attracted from other enemy positions as a result of his action, Sergeant Sato gallantly stood his ground, neutralized two other enemy positions, and by his accurate protective fire enabled the patrol to withdraw to the safety of the woods.