Jose R. Almaraz

Sergeant, U. S. Army

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, 88th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 55 (May 14, 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 to Sergeant Jose R. Almaraz (ASN: 38250336), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 17 April 1945, while serving with Company A, 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, near Furcoli, Italy.
Company A had the mission of seizing Hills 403 and 427. Sergeant Almaraz was in charge of a machine gun section of one of the assault platoons. When the platoon he supported was held up in heavy enemy fire, Sergeant Almaraz brought is guns forward to an exposed position and laid down a withering fire on the hostile positions. Inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy, his machine guns drew the full fury of hostile fire as they engaged the Germans in a bitter fire fight, the assaulting troops were able to resume the advance and gain a foothold on the objective. A short time later the troops were subjected to a murderous mortar barrage. As casualties began to mount, they were ordered to withdraw. To cover the withdrawal, Sergeant Almaraz remained at his forward position, raking the German positions with streams of tracers, protecting his comrades as they moved back. Mortar shells continued to crash about him. When a shell burst close by seriously wounding his gunner, Sergeant Almaraz seized the weapon and kept firing. After the platoon had safely withdrawn, he started to work his way to the rear. Through intense German fire, he half dragged and half carried his wounded gunner and his machine gun. Over rough, treacherous terrain, this sergeant crawled to friendly positions, bringing his comrade to safety and bringing his machine gun intact.
The gallant actions of Sergeant Almaraz were a vital factor in the successful attack and withdrawal of the platoon he supported and his gallantry in risking his life to carry his gunner to a place of safety reflects the finest traditions of the military service.