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 Sergeant Howard Truman Rook (ASN: 18006453), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 26 July 1944. Advancing across the *** Highway, on 26 July 1944, Company K, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division encountered an extremely heavy artillery and mortar barrage. Additional machine gun fire from the enemy front caused heavy casualties among the forward assault platoons. As a result of this enemy action Sergeant Rook’s squad leader was wounded. While pinned down by enemy machine gun fire, Sergeant Rook on his own initiative assumed command of the squad and reorganized the men. Then skillfully leading his men in a flanking maneuver past the two enemy machine gun lanes, Sergeant Rook, with complete disregard for personal safety, fearlessly stood up and exposed himself to enemy observation and fire in order to direct the fire of his squad’s automatic rifle until one enemy weapon was silenced. Remaining in a standing position, he personally knocked out the other gun with his M-1. Later, while courageously leading his squad against a heavily defended enemy position, Sergeant Rook was killed. The gallantry, leadership in battle and disregard for personal safety displayed by this enlisted man are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.