Roy L. Vaught

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star Medal to Roy L. Vaught (0-1307889), Captain (Infantry), [then First Lieutenant], U.S. Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with Company A, 274th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division, on 21 February 1945, in the vicinity of Spicheren, France. Ordered to take heavily fortified bunkers in which the enemy was firmly entrenched on the strategic Spicheren Heights, Captain Vaught skillfully and courageously led his company through a blistering hail of enemy small arms, machine gun, mortar, and artillery fire to accomplish the hazardous mission. Despite three determined enemy counter attacks, the company, under Captain Vaught’s superb leadership, held the heights and repelled the enemy, inflicting heavy casualties. The victory, which secured territory commanding important approaches to the Saar Basin, was a severe psychological as well as military blow to the enemy.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Roy L. Vaught (0-1307889), Captain (Infantry), [then First Lieutenant], U.S. Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with Company A, 274th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division, during the period 5 to 6 February 1945, in the vicinity of Philippsbourg, France. Upon receiving instructions to take high ground in a heavily wooded sector, Captain Vaught rallied his company and moved to clear the enemy from the hill. Continuously exposing himself to intensive enemy small arms fire, he moved about his platoons, superbly controlling the attack and successfully accomplishing the mission with a minimum of casualties. After dark, Captain Vaught fell, fracturing two ribs, but knowing the enemy was preparing a counter attack, he refused evacuation. The next day the enemy’s counter attack was met and repulsed, owing largely to Captain Vaught’s skillful preparation of defensive positions.