The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Warren Thomas Hannum, Jr. (ASN: 0-21316), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters, 2d Battalion, 320th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action in the **** and **** Sectors, France, on 8 and 9 November 1944. Colonel Hannum, Commanding Officer of the 2d Battalion, 320th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, led his battalion as part of the regimental action, against the western edge of the ****. Accompanying leading elements of the battalion, he led a frontal assault across open ground and through sleet and mud which immobilized vehicular transport. The enemy defended stubbornly from long-prepared positions. Colonel Hannum organized and led two successive assaults against the enemy and by nightfall had reached positions near the objective. On the following morning, reinforced by a platoon of tanks, Colonel Hannum organized and led an assault which resulted in the capture of the battalion objective. Throughout the battle, Colonel Hannum moved freely among his troops, acting with utter disregard for personal safety despite the fact that the area was swept by machine gun fire and subjected to intense and prolonged artillery barrages, setting a gallant example for the men under his command, and inspiring them by his dynamic leadership to press forward relentlessly to their objective. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Lieutenant Colonel Hannum, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.