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 Haakon M. Ojard (ASN: 37581449), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 317th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division, in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on 3 December 1944 in France. During an attack near Machern, France, on 3 December 1944, the company in which Staff Sergeant Ojard served as an automatic rifleman was delayed by intense enemy machine gun fire. Crawling forward with utter disregard for his own personal safety Staff Sergeant Ojard reached a position from which he destroyed the gun and crew with a single burst of his automatic rifle thus permitting the company to advance. His courage, initiative, and sincere 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.