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. Krambeck (ASN: 6245306), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Battery A, 232d Field Artillery Battalion, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 15 March 1945, near Reipertswiller, France. While serving as a Forward Observer with Company B, 232d Infantry, during the attack north of Reipertswiller, Sergeant Krambeck and a corporal from his Forward Observer Section were ordered to lay wire over exceedingly difficult, rugged terrain in order to maintain important communications between Company B and the Artillery Liaison Section. Because of these difficulties Sergeant Krambeck and the corporal were unable to advance as rapidly as the Infantry but, in spite of the danger from German mine fields and the imminence of contact with the enemy, continued to lay the line until the supply of wire was exhausted. Moving to regain contact with their company, they entered an enemy mine field. While moving through the field, Sergeant Krambeck stepped on a mine, the explosion from which blew off his foot. As the corporal attempted to come to his aid, he also stepped on a mine blowing off his own foot. With no assistance available, Sergeant Krambeck and the corporal crawled several hundred yards through the field to safety, encouraging each other as they struggled along. The outstanding fortitude demonstrated by Sergeant Krambeck is worthy of the highest praise.