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 Staff Sergeant Rex F. Brown (ASN: 39677044), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 97th Infantry Division in operations against the enemy near Obersterg, Germany, on 14 April 1945. As the leading squad of a rifle company approached Obersterg during darkness, it received heavy machine gun fire from the village. Sergeant Brown, the squad leader, deployed his men and instructed them to fire at gun flashes. With his assistant squad leader he then moved into the town and circled to the rear of the enemy location. Opening surprise fire they wounded one enemy soldier and captured 15 others, allowing the squad to quickly secure the town. Sergeant Brown’s gallantry on this and a similar occasion in which he gave his life a few days later, reflects high credit upon himself and the armed forces.