The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Paul J. Ott, Jr. (ASN: 33724289), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, *** Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action in the vicinity of ****, France, on 21 November 1944. Shortly after Company F, *** Infantry Regiment, entered the enemy-held village of ****, Private Ott heard a motor which he believed to be German. Without hesitation, he made his way forward, scaled a wall between two buildings, and reached a vantage point atop a house. From this position he saw an enemy self-propelled 88-mm. weapon. He fired three rifle grenades at the enemy weapon, then jumped to the ground and surprised two German officers and five enlisted men who had taken cover in the basement of the house, took them prisoner, and marched them to the company command post. His intrepid actions, performed in a section of the village infested with snipers and subjected to enemy artillery fire, reflect credit upon Private Ott’s character and training as a soldier.