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 Sergeant] Norman P. Park (ASN: 36579650), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company G, 2d Battalion, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division, in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on 11 April 1945 in Germany. During the bitter house to house fighting in Schmira, Germany, on 11 April 1945, Staff Sergeant Park, a rifle squad leader, attempted to lead his squad into a building in a business district but was fired on by an enemy machine gun which killed one man. Disregarding the intensity of the enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Park pulled the pins of two grenades and with his squad covering his approach by fire he rushed the building and hurled the grenades through a window, killing three, wounding four, and forcing eight other enemy soldiers to surrender. Staff Sergeant Park’s courage, aggressiveness, 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.