The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Henry B. Poisson (ASN: 31320376), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 150th Engineer Combat Battalion, 1135th Engineer Combat Group, XII Corps, in action against the enemy on 9 September 1944, in France. During a night assault crossing of the ***** River, Sergeant Poisson was in charge of an assault boat delivering supplies to our Infantry troops on the enemy shore and to evacuate the wounded. The boat he was directing was the first to reach the shore successfully even though harassed by enemy machine gun and machine pistol fire. Sergeant Poisson made four trips and evacuated twenty wounded Infantrymen. On the fifth trip at 0230 hours the enemy shot two flares over the rifer thus illuminating the river and machine gunned the boat filled with wounded and succeeded in wounding two of Sergeant Poisson’s crew and further wounding Infantrymen in the bottom of the boat. He succeeded in keeping the boat under control and reached the friendly shore only by reason of his sheer courage and splendid leadership. The courage, leadership, and devotion to duty of Sergeant Poisson reflect great credit upon himself and uphold the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.