Gilbert E. Vazquez

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star Medal to Private First Class Gilbert E. Vazques, 32 994 272, Infantry, Company “M”, 7th Infantry Regiment. On 26 January 1945, when heavy enemy fire forced friendly troops to seek cover in a ditch near Houssen, France, Private First Class Vazquez, an ammunition bearer, seized the frozen bazooka of a wounded comrade and put it in working order under an intense enemy shelling. Climbing up to the edge of the ditch, he fired a round from a standing position at a hostile machine gun, destroying the three-man crew with a direct hit. After reloading in the ditch, he again stood upright on the bank and fired at a second machine gun. But the enemy bullets struck the bazooka flash-hider spoiling his aim. Moving to another position, he knocked out the second machine gun with two more rounds.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Gilbert E. Vazquez, 32 994 272, Private, Infantry, Company “M”, 7th Infantry Regiment. For gallantry in action on 23-24 May 1944, near * * *, Italy, Private Vazquez distinguished himself by making seven long trips to deliver double loads of heavy machine gun ammunition, the last one under intense shell and small arms fire. The sixth trip, 800 yards long, was completed shortly before the attack jumped off and he had no time to dig cover for himself. Refusing to seek shelter at his platoon C.P., he voluntarily subjected himself to heavy artillery and small arms fire in order to remain near the guns in his platoon. Several shells burst 20 yards from him and small arms fire missed him by inches. His last trip was about 1,100 yards long, made under severe shell and small arms fire. On each of these seven trips he carried almost 90 pounds of ammunition. During the first day, he dragged a wounded man 50 yards to cover, punctured his canteen.