The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Lawrence E. McFadden (ASN: 12133754), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 26 – 27 December 1944, near ****, Belgium. Sergeant McFadden, Squad Leader, Company G, 3d Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, was a member of a group which was dug in at the bottom of a draw about 200 yards from the enemy when they attacked in force and succeeded in overrunning several of the forward positions. A concentrated volume of enemy machine gun fire sprayed his positions. Sergeant McFadden noted that twelve men on forward outposts had been cut off. Seizing a BAR, he advanced through heavy fire and worked his way forward to the group. During his advance, he knocked out a German machine gun with a Gammon Grenade and inflicted severe casualties upon the enemy with his BAR. He succeeded in reaching the twelve men and led them back to the platoon positions from which they were able to place heavy fire upon the attacking enemy, forcing them to fall back with heavy losses. His gallant actions reflect great credit upon himself and upon the Airborne Forces of the United States Army.