John A. Holda

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to John A. Holda (31412530), Technical Sergeant [then Private], U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company F, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. On 17 April 1945, near Nuremburg, Germany, at 1500 Hours, Sergeant Holda, a BAR man, left the position he had in a cellar to creep and crawl 75 yards over open terrain to a commanding point. Although the enemy machine gun nest was firing from an emplacement 100 yards away, and bullets barely missed him, he moved forward until he came to the position he had selected as his objective. Firing his BAR at the enemy position, he killed the gunner and his assistant with his first burst. In a subsequent action Sergeant Holda killed one and captured three supporting riflemen. His actions, without regard for his own safety, reflect great credit on himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.