The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technical Sergeant Maurice J. Roper (ASN: 20726606), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, *** Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action near ****, France, on 14 December 1944. After Company I, *** Infantry Regiment, had crossed the **** River into ****, its further advance was impeded by intense enemy small arms fire from positions in three connecting houses on the river bank. Sergeant Roper, a platoon sergeant, volunteered to go forward and establish an observation post from which to direct mortar fire upon the enemy positions. He made his way under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire to a house some three hundred yards from the enemy small arms positions, and from that point directed mortar fire upon the houses occupied by the enemy. Although enemy artillery struck his observation post several times, ripping huge pieces of masonry from the building, Sergeant Roper remained at his position, calling accurate mortar fire that ultimately destroyed the tree enemy positions and enabled Company I to advance, and taking fifty-three prisoners who were dazed by the accuracy and intensity of Sergeant Roper’s mortar fire. The courage, tenacity of purpose, devotion to duty and disregard for personal safety displayed by Sergeant Roper are such gallantry in action as to be in accord with the military traditions of the United States.