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 Frank B. West (ASN: 34961308), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 253d Infantry Regiment, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 20 April 1945, in the vicinity of Lobenhausen, Germany. Sergeant West, acting as platoon leader in an attack, led his platoon in flanking assaults on three enemy machine gun positions which were holding up the advance of his company. After two assaults, in which the platoon was pinned down by machine gun fire and forced to withdraw to cover, Sergeant West was able, through his grim determination and leadership, to get the platoon up and moving. He led the third assault across open ground and overran the enemy positions. The intrepidity with which Sergeant West accomplished his mission was an inspiration to all those under him and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.