The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Sergeant Howard H. Gouge (ASN: 34404169), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 3 July 1944 at ****, France. Sergeant Gouge’s squad was attacked by a large German patrol, covered in their advance by automatic weapons fire. Sergeant Gouge had in his squad six men and one heavy enemy machine gun. In the opening of the fire fight, the machine gun was knocked out and the two men on it were wounded by German grenades. The Germans rushed his position in strength and reached a point ten to fifteen yards in front of the position, whereupon Sergeant Gouge, oblivious to the fire, ran from one position to the next encouraging his men by both word and example, and was himself wounded by grenade fragments. He refused medical attention until after the fire fight, in which he personally crawled forward under the covering fire of his men and knocked out one machine gun and crew with grenades. Sergeant Gouge’s sheer courage and aggressive action was not only an inspiration to his own men but was directly responsible for holding the line, which was used as the line of departure for an attack on Hill 131 that same morning. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.