Raymond H. Kurtz

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Raymond H. Kurtz (33594299), Technician Fifth Grade, U.S. Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a Medical Aidman with the 49th Armored Infantry Battalion, 8th Armored Division, in Germany on 5 March 1945. Corporal Kurtz, carried out his duties in the face of heavy machine gun and mortar fire despite serious wounds which he sustained. With a compound fracture of one leg, he crawled under fire to the assistance of three wounded men. He dragged another man to safety from a position exposed to small arms fire. His own strength failing, he then dragged himself to a house where he continued to give aid to other wounded men until he lost consciousness. In carrying out his missions of mercy, Corporal Kurtz displayed gallantry that was beyond the call of duty.