The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Lonnie Phelps, Jr. (ASN: 34881424), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 2d Battalion, 222d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division. On 24 January 1945, near Schweighausen, France, when his platoon became surrounded and subjected to a violent attack by a vastly superior enemy force strongly supported by mortar and automatic weapons, and with his platoon leader seriously wounded and communications destroyed by enemy artillery fire, Corporal Phelps, calling two other men, voluntarily proceeded over four hundred yards through a rain of mortar and small arms fire to the company command post to inform the company commander of the situation and request assistance. Assured that the platoon’s withdrawal would be covered, Corporal Phelps still under heavy fire returned to the platoon and showed the men the route to safety through the surrounding forces. Remaining behind under mortar, machine gun and small arms fire, he was seriously wounded in the face while covering the withdrawal of his men.