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] Jose M. Hernandez (ASN: 38578671), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company G, 2d Battalion, 253d Infantry Regiment, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 4 April 1945, in the vicinity of Buchhof, Germany. Sergeant Hernandez left cover to move against a machine gun nest. In spite of falling shells and concentrated small arms fire, Sergeant Hernandez rushed the machine gun nest, destroyed the weapon, and killed the enemy gunners. Sergeant Hernandez’s courage and bravery in the face of enemy fire are in keeping with the finest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.