The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Lemuel T. Pitts (ASN: 0-1303941), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 11th Airborne Division, in action against the enemy on Leyte, Philippine Islands, on 4 December, 1944. During an infantry attack, First Lieutenant Pitts, who was forward with his leading scouts, was suddenly subjected to heavy hostile machine gun fire from a camouflaged log emplacement. Ordering the scouts to cover him, First Lieutenant Pitts, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, crawled forward across the fire swept terrain to an exposed position where he threw a grenade into the log emplacement, killing for of the enemy and destroying one heavy machine gun. In the performance of this heroic deed, First Lieutenant Pitts was seriously wounded. The courage and initiative displayed by this officer reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.