Derlan A. Harbison

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Derlan A. Harbison, Private, U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company E, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. On 18 April 1945, Private Harbison, firing his BAR, dashed into an enemy-held building, in Nurnberg, Germany, despite intense machine pistol and rifle fire, and forced the Germans into another building 30 yards away. When a few enemy soldiers, under cover of very heavy concentrations of Panzerfaust and automatic rife, attempted to return, Private Harbison stepped outside, fully exposing himself, and fired directly at them. Although an enemy bullet hit him in the leg, his surprise fire forced the Germans back, and with the help of some comrades, he completely routed the enemy after a hand grenade duel.