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 Staff Sergeant Kenneth L. Shade (ASN: 33368283), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 319th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on 7 February 1945 in Germany. On that date, while establishing a bridgehead across the Our River into the Siegfried Line near Wallendorf, Germany, Staff Sergeant Shade, a machine gun platoon sergeant, was wounded in the initial assault. Disregarding his wounds, he controlled his platoon and capably emplaced the machine guns so that they furnished the maximum possible support to the attacking infantrymen. Refusing to be evacuated, he continued with his mission until killed by a mortar shell while displacing forward to a new gun position. Staff Sergeant Shade’s courage, leadership, and supreme devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.