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 Captain (Field Artillery) Lester H. Athey (ASN: 0-456295), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 89th Field Artillery Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, in action against Japanese forces at Kapintalan, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 26 March 1945. Captain Athey, performing the duties of Forward Observer with an Infantry Rifle Company, was pinned down by enemy machine gun fire from adjoining high ground. Captain Athey, realizing that the rive valley in which the infantry company was pinned down carried all the disadvantages of promoting an adequate defensive position, undertook the responsibility of attempting to eliminate the enemy guns. To accomplish this meant crawling up the high exposed ground, in the direct line of fire of the enemy guns. Ins o doing, Captain Athey was killed by the Japanese machine gunners. Captain Athey’s gallantry in action and outstanding devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.