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 [then Private First Class] Robert D. Sonnefeld (ASN: 35755723), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 232d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 20 March 1945, near Ludwigswinkel, Germany. During the attack on the West Wall, Private Sonnefeld and his squad of four men were receiving intense fire from an enemy pillbox fifty yards to their front. He crawled forward across forty yards of open terrain exposed to the fire until he was within approximately ten yards of the pillbox. He then charged toward the door, firing his automatic rifle as he went, forcing four enemy machine gunners to surrender. Private Sonnefeld then braved continued heavy fire to bring one of his wounded men to the safety of the pillbox where he administered first aid. Private Sonnefeld’s gallant and aggressive action silenced a strong enemy gun position which was holding up the advance of our forces.