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SILVER STAR, awarded for actions during World War II to First Lieutenant Clarence O. Pratt under General Orders No. 32 (August 29, 1944).
CITATION: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Clarence O. Pratt (ASN: 0-342954), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the (redacted) Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division, in action against the enemy from 7 August 1944 to 12 August 1944, in (redacted), France.
Lieutenant Pratt displayed outstanding devotion to duty and conspicuous bravery in leading his company in the attack against the city of (redacted).
The entire action was carried out under extremely heavy enemy small arms and artillery fire.
Although severely wounded, he carefully directed the advance of his men and materially assisted the advance of the entire battalion.
His heroic devotion to duty reflects great credit upon himself and the finest traditions of military service.
Thanks, Dad.
Discussion (8)
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Cool.
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Very nice.
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The redacted French city was St. Lo. I don't know the regiment. His CO was killed, so Dad was in charge when he got a bullet through the knee. He stayed for three days, from what I recall, before a replacement arrived and he was shipped out on a hospital ship. He seldom talked about it, but he opened up to my brother's wife, who was a nurse; nurses are like that.
One of thousands of Americans who did what had to be done. And are still doing it.
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My hat's off to your dad, Douglas.
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He was a pretty ordinary guy, small farmer, teacher, Justice of the Peace for our little tiny town. He's a good example of the ordinary people who saved the world from something horrible. I'm sure everyone else with a veteran father can tell similar stories...if they heard them. It was so awful, it wasn't something that they talked about a lot unless it was to fellow vets or to someone exceptionally sympathetic.
I believe this country is full of ordinary people who will step up and do what's necessary. Personally, I think the popular vote in the last election is a fact that reinforces my belief.
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