George P. Grabner

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant George P. Grabner, 33 793 305, Infantry, Company “I”, 7th Infantry Regiment. On 25 January 1945, when hostile fire inflicted four casualties and halted his company near Houssen, France, Sergeant Grabner singlehandedly broke enemy resistance. With many of the rifles in his company frozen and unable to function, he crawled forward through intense small arms fire that barely missed him and shellfire that hit within 25 yards of him, to a point about 20 yards from the nearest Germans. Hurling several grenades into the enemy’s positions, he killed and wounded a number of Germans and so demoralized others that 20 more surrendered. His company was then able to advance without further loss.