The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Charles A. Durant (ASN: 31143397), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 23 December 1944, about two miles from Fraiture, Belgium. In the defense of critical crossroads, Staff Sergeant Durant’s platoon was holding the exposed right flank of the company when it became subject to direct fire from small arms and attacking enemy tanks. During the action, enemy forces began to infiltrate and take positions overlooking those of Staff Sergeant Durant’s platoon. Staff Sergeant Durant, knowing that his squad and platoon must have fire power in order to halt the enemy, moved out across 200 yards of open ground under direct enemy fire and secured an abandoned machine gun from a knocked out tank. On the return trip, Staff Sergeant Durant was wounded and knocked to the ground, but he crawled the remaining 50 yards to his platoon with the much needed machine gun. Throughout all of the action, the Staff Sergeant was under a withering fire from the enemy, to whom he was a plainly visible target. His courage and aggressiveness on this occasion contributed greatly to the company halting of this enemy attack and was in keeping with the highest standards of the Airborne Forces.