The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Harold L. Choate (ASN: 33657873), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, in action on 10 December 1944 in the vicinity of Dillingen, Germany. The platoon of which Private First Class Choate was a member was occupying a pillbox in the rear of a slaughterhouse. A counterattacking enemy gained the area and trapped the platoon with a concentration of artillery and machine gun fire. At risk of his life, Private First Class Choate left the pillbox and advanced through the intense fire to a strategic position from which he fired his automatic weapon so effectively that the enemy became temporarily disorganized. While the platoon took advantage of the situation and moved from the pillbox to a more favorable position, he continued his fire until he was wounded by enemy shell fire. His gallantry was in accordance with high military tradition.