The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Eikel Gaston (ASN: 0-206977), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as Commanding Officer of the 2d Battalion, 66th Infantry Regiment, 71st Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Bindlach, Germany. Disdaining close range panzerfaust, machine gun, machine pistol, and rifle fire Lieutenant Colonel Eikel inspired and led approximately seventeen men of his command in the attack on an airfield near Bindlach. Despite the intense fire, he directed a patrol up the side of a hill approaching the airfield and captured thirty-two Germans, including a colonel and a major. Informed by the German colonel that there were one hundred and fifty more Germans defending the airfield and who might surrender, Lieutenant Colonel Eikel and two German officers moved up the hill where the German colonel ordered his men to surrender. The Germans answered with heavy small arms fire, narrowly missing Lieutenant Colonel Eikel and forced him to see cover. The remainder of the patrol then moved forward but the hostile fire was too heavy for them to advance to the airfield. Before Lieutenant Eikel could commit one of his rifle companies to action, the 3d Battalion, 66th Infantry Regiment, supported by five tanks attacked from the north. When one of the Infantry rifle units was pinned down by the intense fire, Lieutenant Eikel left his covered position and moved through the intense fire to the opposite side of the airfield, contacted the tanks and directed their fire on the enemy main point of resistance. Lieutenant Colonel Eikel’s gallant actions were an inspiration to all and were greatly responsible for the capture of the airfield.