Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Technician Fifth Grade

    Regiment:

    381st Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    96th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    World War II

    Headquarters, 96th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 366 (June 20, 1945)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Technician Fifth Grade Melvin C. Friesenhahn (ASN: 38254853), United States Army, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a Medical Aidman with the 381st Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, in repeatedly, without regard for his own life, crawling about in the front lines aiding the wounded. Intense Japanese small arms and artillery fire caused several casualties in a battalion adjacent to Technician Fifth Grade Friesenhahn’s company and with the aid of three litter bearers he rushed over to them and helped with the evacuation of the wounded. He repeated the performance when his own company suffered casualties in taking a high rocky ridge.