James D. Benn

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to James D. Benn (33768959), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with Company A, 58th Armored Infantry Battalion, 8th Armored Division, in Germany on 9 April 1945. When two members of a patrol were wounded, Private Benn left the safety of his position to reach his comrades. He advanced more than three hundred yards under machine gun, artillery and mortar fire. Discovering that one of the men had already died of his wounds, he carried the other back over the same terrain under continuing heavy fire. Reaching a place of safety he turned the man over to medical aid men. His personal courage and devotion beyond the call of duty reflect great credit on himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.