The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry), [then Second Lieutenant] Arthur F. Draper, Jr. (ASN: 0-1321573), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 8 January 1945, one mile from ****, Belgium. During the attack on the town, enemy forces began a strong infiltration and set up several strong machine gun positions in abandoned holes covering the entire exposed left flank of the attacking company. First Lieutenant Draper, platoon leader, left his machine gunners to support the attack and upon his own initiative frontally assaulted two of the positions. By the very fierceness of his attack, he managed to neutralize them. Continuing to attack, he lobbed phosphorous grenades into two other positions and silenced them. Throughout all of the action, the Lieutenant was under a withering fire from the enemy automatic weapons to which he was a plainly visible target. 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 and the United States Army.