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 Frank Taylor (ASN: 36466550), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 101st Airborne Division. On 13 January 1945 during an offensive in the vicinity of Bastogne, Belgium, an assault platoon of which Private First Class Taylor was a light machine gunner, was held up by heavy small arms fire from a wooded area to its front. This fire killed his squad leader and several of the riflemen. Picking up his machine gun and a box of ammunition, Private First Class Taylor moved forward alone through the woods under heavy small arms fire to a position seventy-five yards to the enemy’s left flank. He emplaced his gun and immediately delivered enfilade fire on the enemy, enabling the riflemen of his platoon to advance and destroy one platoon of the enemy. The cool and courageous manner in which Private First Class Taylor conducted himself was directly responsible for the success of his unit in attaining its first objective of the offensive. His actions were in accordance with the military traditions of the United States.