Lawrence K. Shumaker

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Technical Sergeant Lawrence H. Shumaker, 39 080 664, Infantry, Company “M”, 15th Infantry Regiment. On 21 March 1945, at about 0300 hours, near Thal, Germany, Sergeant Shumaker carried a heavy machine gun 100 yards under severe enemy small arms, panzerfaust and tank fire, to set up the gun and provide supporting fire for our riflemen. When the enemy counterattacked, a moment later, Sergeant Shumaker laid down such a devastating fire from his exposed, but commanding position, that he singlehandedly broke up the enemy’s attempt, killing or wounding thirty enemy soldiers.