The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Arthur D. Kessler (ASN: 35140332), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 232d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 10 January 1945, near Leutenheim, France. When a ten man enemy patrol attacked the positions of Private Kessler’s machine gun squad, he immediately went to his gun through the bitter cold although only partially clothed. Picking it up, he stood in a completely exposed position and directed a deadly stream of fire at the onrushing enemy forces. Completely disregarding the murderous fire striking all about him, he continued to fire the gun from the hip, single-handedly repulsing the attack and killing or wounding the entire enemy patrol. Private Kessler’s exceptional courage and aggressiveness completely frustrated the enemy attack without casualty to our forces.