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 Lebo Sanford (ASN: 34646007), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action on 26 November 1944 in France. Sergeant Sanford led his squad as an advance patrol along the forward slope of a mountain toward an enemy-held town. As he and his companions rounded a bend in the trail, they were subjected to heavy machine gun fire from a well-concealed position. Although he was seriously wounded in the legs and body, Sergeant Sanford courageously directed his squad in firing on the hostile emplacement. Mastering the pain of his wound, he put his sub-machine gun into action and delivered a burst of fire into the midst of the enemy group. He instantly became the target for the hostile gunners and was mortally wounded by the last spray of machine gun bullets. Before he died, Sergeant Sanford, with thoughts only for the safety of his squad, ordered his men to move out of the enemy weapon’s field of fire and take up advantageous firing positions higher on the hill.