The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry) Richard D. Melcher (ASN: 0-406956), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action near ****, Normandy, France, on 17 July 1944. When his company was pinned down by fire from an enemy machine gun in a church on its flank, Captain Melcher crawled through an open field under heavy enemy fire and lobbed three hand grenades through a window, destroying the gun and killing its crew, and enabling his company to continue its advance. The intrepid courage of Captain Melcher, his tenacity of purpose, his devotion to duty and disregard for personal safety, reflects great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.