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 Corporal Edward L. Brannon (ASN: 14024794), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 654th Tank Destroyer Battalion, 35th Infantry Division, in action near ****, Belgium, on 29 December 1944. Corporal Brannon was returning from a foot reconnaissance of the immediate area when he saw that his tank destroyer had been hit by direct fire from an enemy tank located in a concealed position. Ammunition was exploding, setting the tank destroyer on fire and wounding three members of the crew who were inside the vehicle. Two of the men were able to extricate themselves from the tank destroyer, but a third man could not get out. Hearing frantic calls for help from this soldier, Corporal Brannon voluntarily and with utter disregard for his personal safety rushed across a hundred and fifty yards of exposed terrain through heavy enemy tank fire and amidst exploding ammunition to the flaming vehicle. With the aid of another soldier, he succeeded in lifting his wounded comrade to the ground. As the group was preparing to return to safer positions, renewed fire from the enemy tank killed Corporal Brannon and his wounded companion, and seriously wounded the remaining member of the crew who had sought to aid in the rescue. Corporal Brannon’s intrepid actions, zealous devotion to duty, and loyalty to a wounded comrade even at the sacrifice of his own life, served as an inspiration to his fellow soldiers and reflect high credit upon the military service.