The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant [then Sergeant] Leonard P. Karlson (ASN: 37311926), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 222d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 4 April 1945 at Wurzburg, Germany. While clearing snipers from the ruins of Wurzburg, Sergeant Karlson voluntarily led a patrol into an underground passageway from which the enemy had inflicted heavy casualties upon his company. Entering the dark tunnels, he killed two and wounded an equal number of enemy soldiers, and drove the remainder of the German force further into the underground fortress. He then returned to the street and again volunteered to lead a platoon in destroying the enemy elements remaining in the passageway. Through Sergeant Karlson’s indomitable courage and aggressive leadership, an enemy force of 40 Germans was liquidated and his company was enabled to continue their attack.