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 Ottis Strother (ASN: 38495911), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action in the vicinity of ****, Germany, on 30 March 1945. When his squad was pinned down by cross-fire from enemy machine guns and an American tank was disabled and abandoned by its crew, Private Strother, a squad leader, disregarding personal safety, mounted the turret of the abandoned tank while the enemy hurled artillery, rocket and machine gun fire at him. Manning the .50 caliber machine gun, he neutralized two enemy machine guns, and covered the advance of his squad. Private Strother’s indomitable courage, exemplary leadership and gallantry in action honor his character as a soldier.