Virgil W. Elder

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Virgil W. Elder (37696794), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company G, 274th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division, on 20 February 1945, near Styring Wendel, France. When the attack of the first platoon was stopped by intense enemy machine gun fire from the front and right flank, Private First Class Elder and Private First Class Carl W. Shields, disregarding their own safety, crept from the extreme right of their unit to a position from which they could fire upon the machine gun in front of their platoon. Firing their rifles at close range, they engaged the hostile gun, and, although killed during the engagement, their heroic efforts enabled their unit to withdraw and later outflank the enemy positions with a minimum of casualties. The gallant sacrifice and devotion to duty of these men exemplify the finest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.