The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technician Fifth Grade Roland J. Couture (ASN: 31359000), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of the *** Engineer Combat Battalion, XII Corps, in action against an armed enemy on 9 January 1945, in Luxembourg. On this date the platoon of which Technician Fifth Grade Couture was a member was laying a minefield near the town of Ettelbruck, Luxembourg. Shortly after work began a very heavy barrage of enemy artillery fire fell in the area and caused many casualties. Technician Fifth Grade Couture, with utter disregard for his personal safety, immediately jumped into his vehicle and drove it into the shelled area to remove one of the casualties. After successfully evacuating one man to the rear, Technician Fifth Grade Couture returned to the area, which was still under heavy artillery fire, and rove out into the open field to remove another casualty. The initiative, devotion to duty, and utter disregard for personal safety displayed by Technician Fifth Grade Couture reflect great credit upon himself and uphold the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.