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 Corporal] Donald L. Burt (ASN: 38345212), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. On 25 January 1945, at 0300 hours, a by-passed enemy machine gun pinned most of Company E to the ground. Staff Sergeant Burt ran back to the gun position and, although wounded by the weapon’s fire, he eliminated it with hand grenades, allowing the company to proceed. At 1400 hours that day, small arms, artillery, and mortar fire began to pound the company. Snipers, screened by the converged fire, infiltrated the company line and threatened the life of the Commanding Officer. Exposing himself completely to the snipers’ observation, Staff Sergeant Burt distracted their fire and was again wounded. In this action he located a sniper and advanced to kill him. As if in a continuous action, he immediately uncovered the position of two others sniper positions and proceeded to successfully silence them in a sharp encounter. Staff Sergeant Burt refused to leave the scene of action until wounded for the third time later that day. His actions, without regard for his own safety, reflect great credit on himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.