Elmer L. Diede

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Elmer L. Diede, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for gallantry in action in connection with a military operation against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 387th Infantry Regiment, 97th Infantry Division. On 24 April 1945, near Huntsback, Germany, Private Diede was a member of a road reconnaissance patrol which came upon an enemy machine gun position. After returning and reporting the position of the gun Private Diede volunteered to guide a patrol to attack the position. Approaching and challenging the enemy gun, he was met with heavy fire which wounded one man of the patrol. In the face of enemy fire, Private Diede helped to remove the casualty to a ditch and remained there with him with enemy machine gun fire falling and ricocheting all about them until the wounded man died in his arms. Private Diede’s gallantry on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces.