The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Melvin L. Pagel (ASN: 37574901), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action at ****, France, 30 September 1944. When Company F, 2d Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment fought its way into the village of ****, in the face of heavy enemy fire of all types, intense street and hand-to-hand fighting ensued. Early in the action, Private Pagel, a rifleman, had been severely wounded in the abdomen, but despite his wound, insisted upon continuing in the action. Disregarding his pain and loss of blood, Private Pagel would not permit himself to be taken out of the fight until the successful completion of his company’s mission, during the accomplishment of which he displayed the courage, fortitude and fighting spirit of the American Infantryman.