The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technician Fifth Grade Rudolf E. Schnackenberg, United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a Medical Aidman with the 85th Medical Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, in action on 19 March 1945, near Mount San Michele. When a company of infantry moving along a road were caught in an ambush and suffered heavy casualties, Technician Fifth Grade Schnackenberg at once moved forward into the deadly fire, exposing himself on the surface of the road in order to reach the wounded. As he was treating the first man, an enemy sniper wounded him in the leg, but undaunted he continued administering first-aid. Then bandaging his own painful wound, he dashed through the heavy fire to treat other casualties, continuing his merciful work for an hour at great risk to his life, until he was ordered to the rear for treatment of his own serious leg wound.