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HEADQUARTERS 82D AIRBORNE DIVISION
OFFICE OF THE DIVISION COMMANDER
APO 469, U.S. ARMY
17 March 1945
General Order 34 [Extract]:
SUBJECT: Award of the Silver Star Medal.
TO : Sergeant William H. Traband, 20309891, Sergeant, 508th Parachute
Infantry
Under the provisions of AR 6 00-45 .as amended, and pursuant to authority
contained in Circular No. 32, Headquarters ETOUSA, dated 20 March 1944, and
Circular No. 66, Headquarters First United States Army, dated 18 May 1944,
the Silver Star Medal is awarded to the following individual:
CITATION:
"For gallantry in action on 29 January 1945, at ******, BELGIUM, Sergeant
TRABAND, Platoon Sergeant, Company "C", 508th Parachute Infantry, was a
member of a platoon which was held up in their attack by an enemy strong
point at ******, BELGIUM. This strong point consisted of two houses
which the enemy was defending with a large number of automatic weapons with
a 75mm gun in support. Sergeant TRABAND, with two other men,
volunteered to assault the position from the flank. The group only had
thirty rounds of TSMG ammunition apiece, five clips of BAR ammunition,
and a few grenades. They attacked the gun first and killed the tank
commander. This demoralized the other crew members who ceased firing
and fled. While Sergeant TRABAND's two comrades laid down a base of
fire, Sergeant TRABAND assaulted the houses with grenades. The assault
was successful and a total of forty-one prisoners were captured as a result
of this action, thus permitting Company "C" to take the remainder of the
village. The actions of this group were responsible for the
success of the attack and the capture of ******. Sergeant TRABAND's
gallant action reflects great credit upon himself and upon the Airborne
Forces of the United States Army. Entered military service from
CLIFTON HEIGHTS, PENNSYLVANIA.,
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