Robert Earl Pennington, Jr.

Staff Sergeant, U. S. Army

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, 26th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 15 (January 16, 1945)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Staff Sergeant Robert Earl Pennington, Jr. (ASN: 38420835), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 328th Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division, near Grosbous, Luxembourg, on 24 December 1944.
While his platoon was moving through the woods preparatory to the attack on the enemy-held town of Grosbous, Staff Sergeant Pennington, a Company E Rifle Squad Leader, assumed command of the platoon after the Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Guide were seriously wounded by enemy fire. To meet a head-on enemy attack led by tanks, he moved his men into position and personally directed the effective fire of his rifle grenadiers which destroyed two enemy tanks and stopped the advance of the others. When enemy infantrymen attempted to flee, he pursued them, shot three and caused the surrender of fifteen others. His brilliant display of leadership, courage and outstanding devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Staff Sergeant Pennington and the armed forces of the United States.