Paul Dean Burnum

Private 1st Class, U. S. Army

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, 42d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 5 (February 24, 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 Private First Class Paul D. Burnum (ASN: 38399570), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Anti-Tank Company, 222d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 25 January 1945, at Schweighausen, France, in an attack by members of an enemy Parachute Bicycle Battalion, Private Burnum killed three Germans with a hand grenade and shot a machine gunner who was setting up his machine gun. As he entered the command post, Private Burnum was wounded in the right hand. Disregarding his wound, he continued to fire killing four Germans comprising a machine gun squad and wounded and captured an enemy machine pistol gunner.