The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Sergeant [then Private First Class] Ronald K. Bowman, United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company F, 328th Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 17 February 1945. During an attack on enemy positions within the city blocks of Fraulautern, his platoon was aught in an open lot in a cross-fire of German machine guns and his platoon leader was killed. While two riflemen covered his movements from a building, Sergeant Bowman jumped through a window into the open lot and rushed the German machine gun position on his right flank. Although wounded by enemy fire, he reached the enemy position and tossed grenades into the building, thus destroying the weapon and capturing the crew. This action allowed the remaining able men to resume the attack and to evacuate the wounded.