The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Grant H. Messinger (ASN: 0-1179156), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of the *** Field Artillery Battalion, XII Corps, in action against an armed enemy from 26 to 28 November 1944, in France. On 26 November when direct anti-aircraft fire, machine gun cross-fire and intense artillery and mortar fire pinned down the Infantry Battalion with which he was serving as Artillery Forward Observer near St. Avold, Lieutenant Messinger, with utter disregard for personal safety exposed himself to observe and adjust artillery fire which silenced the enemy fire. On 28 November near Oberhamburg, when heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire were encountered and an enemy counter-attack was expected, observation was sop poor that the source of the fire could not be located. Lieutenant Messinger went forward ahead of our Infantry, located the enemy positions and called for artillery fire which silenced them, enabling the Infantry to advance with minimum losses. This unswerving devotion to duty and utter disregard toward personal safety reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.