George R. Townsend

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal to First Lieutenant George R. Townsend, 0 390 725, Infantry, Company “K”, 7th Infantry Regiment. On 7 November 1944, Lieutenant Townsend made a reconnaissance into enemy territory near Richardville, France, and located four enemy strongpoints. Acting on his information, his company succeeded in destroying three of these positions. Lieutenant Townsend then secured a machine gun, advanced 30 yards ahead of his men, and placed the weapon in position to fire against the last enemy strongpoint, which was protected on three sides by boulders. Summoning a crew to man the weapon, Lieutenant Townsend then crawled forward again and drew enemy machine gun fire at 30 yards range, that hit within a foot of him. With enemy fire diverted to him, Lieutenant Townsend’s machine gunners knocked out the German crew, killing two and wounding two others.