The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Samuel S. Graham (ASN: 12050790), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action near ****, Belgium, on 15 January 1945. When his platoon leader became a casualty during a dawn attack against strong enemy positions advantageously situated, Sergeant Graham assumed command of his platoon, and led his men in an assault on the hostile outposts, killing all of the enemy personnel. Displaying brilliant qualities of leadership, he then moved at the head of the platoon into the town of ****, directing the capture of an anti-tank gun, two machine gun emplacements, and clearing the town of the enemy in fierce house-to-house fighting, even after he had himself been painfully wounded. Sergeant Graham’s gallant actions were responsible for the destruction or capture of an entire German battalion with minimum losses to our troops, and are in accord with the military traditions of the United States.