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 Harvey L. Fonville (ASN: 38535916), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action near ****, Germany, on 23 February 1945. When the advance of his unit across an open field was halted by enemy machine gun fire, Sergeant Fonville, an assistant squad leader, voluntarily moved forward with his platoon leader over heavily mined terrain to a point near the **** River. While seeking an advantageous firing position, he struck an anti-personnel mine and was severely wounded. Undaunted, he fired a rifle grenade at the enemy but was killed by the explosion of another mine. His intrepid actions are in accord with the military traditions of the United States.