The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry) Kenneth M. Bender (ASN: 0-450065), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. On 14 June 1944, Company B, 38th Infantry Regiment, was cut off from its Battalion in the town of St. George d’Elle, France, and was forced into a sunken road where enemy guns prevented it from moving. It appeared they were trapped but Captain Bender confidently went about calming his men. While so engaged, he observed a German machine gun crew moving their gun up the sunken road and placing it in position about forty yards from his men. He calmly moved two automatic riflemen up near him and directed their fire on the enemy crew, putting the gun out of action. He then proceeded to organize his company and successfully moved it back to rejoin the battalion. The competence, leadership and intrepid actions of this officer to infuse courage in his troops is in keeping with the highest traditions of armed forces of the United States.