Hershel V. Mayo

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Hershel V. Mayo (35774560), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. When enemy troops approached his company’s position on a hill top overlooking St. Die, France, on the afternoon of 28 October 1944, Private First Class Mayo, 60-mm. mortar gunner, ran 200 yards forward to intercept them and killed one and wounded one with sub-machine gun fire. He then opened fire on another enemy group 30 yards distant, killing three and wounding two more enemy. After alerting the company, Private First Class Mayo further disorganized the enemy with mortar fire enabling the company to drive the enemy attack off with heavy casualties.