Nolan Lete, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Nolan Lete, Jr., First Lieutenant (Infantry), [then Second Lieutenant], U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a Platoon Leader in Company F, 142d Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division. On 21 March 1945, at 1000 Hours, Lieutenant Lete, together with his platoon had the objective of destroying two hostile machine guns which were delaying the Battalion’s advance Bergzabern, France. Lieutenant Lete and his platoon were successful in eliminating the first German machine gun and were desperately trying to destroy the second when a third machine gun about 150 yards on the left flank opened fire wounding several men and disorganizing the assault. Realizing that the assaulting forces would be wiped out, Lieutenant Lete rushed towards the hostile position firing his carbine from the hip. When he came to within 25 yards of the Germans he hurled a hand grenade, killing the four-man crew. Lieutenant Lete re-organized his Platoon and was successful in eliminating the remaining German resistance.