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 Arthur E. Beard (ASN: 37628113), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action near ****, France on 10 December 1944. When his unit’s position on the edge of **** was imperiled by heavy enemy small arms, machine gun and observed artillery fire emanating from a wooded hill only one hundred and fifty yards distant, Sergeant Beard, a machine gun squad leader, voluntarily and valiantly made a personal reconnaissance for a gun position, and moved his weapon forward. He then directed such a heavy and accurate concentration of fire against the hostile positions that many of the enemy were killed or wounded, and the remainder surrendered. Sergeant Beard’s intrepid actions, performed in the face of withering German fire, were largely responsible for the destruction or capture of five enemy machine guns, one mortar, and thirty German soldiers, and marked an important contribution to the success of the battalion mission. The high order of gallantry and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Beard are characteristic of the best traditions of the service.