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 Irwin W. Rohlf, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 143d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 29 May 1944 in Italy. When the combat patrol in which Sergeant Rohlf was a squad leader encountered the enemy main line of resistance and was pinned to the ground by the intense fire, the automatic riflemen were unable to spot machine gun targets. Sergeant Rohlf volunteered to expose himself to enemy observation so that the hostile guns would open fire on him and reveal their positions. He ran 20 yards across the flat terrain and hit the ground. As an enemy machine gun began firing, the friendly troops directed rapid bursts of automatic weapons fire on it and neutralized the position. Sergeant Rohlf then repeated his previous performance, and another enemy gun was destroyed. When he returned to his squad, he seized a rifle and killed two enemy snipers with his accurate fire. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.