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 Jess J. Fridell (ASN: 37219573), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action near ****, Germany, on 23 February 1945. When his platoon’s attack was halted by enemy automatic weapons fire from a house, Sergeant Fridell, a squad leader, led his men in an assault on the position. Dashing forward, he threw a hand grenade into the window. His leg was fractured by a bullet as he rushed the entrance, yet he crawled to a point where he could fire from a sitting position to cover his advancing squad, which captured the five enemy soldiers occupying the building. His intrepid actions were in accord with the military traditions of the United States.