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 Erwin A. Lord (ASN: 39041858), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action near ****, Germany, on 15 April 1945. When his squad encountered heavy enemy fire after spearheading the assault crossing of the **** River, Sergeant Lord proceeded forward alone, crossed a road swept by machine gun crossfire, killed an enemy rifleman, silenced an enemy machine gun with automatic rifle fire, and continued forward to a vantage point from which he placed accurate fire into another machine gun position, killing several of the crew members. He then started maneuvering his men forward, and was killed by enemy fire as he dashed across open terrain. Sergeant Lord’s inspiring leadership and tactical acumen honor his character as a soldier.