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 Russell A. Bruchu (ASN: 37299778), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 531st Anti-Aircraft Artillery (Automatic Weapons) Battalion (Separate), in support of the 30th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 21 August 1944, in France. Corporal Bruchu was serving with an anti-aircraft artillery organization supporting an infantry assault force engaged in heavy fighting with the enemy. He was assigned to duty as commander of an armored vehicle engaged in making a frontal assault on enemy positions. The vehicle became stalled a short distance from enemy lines, and guns from both hostile and friendly lines made the position of Corporal Bruchu and his companions an extremely hazardous one. Ordering his men to crawl beneath the vehicle for protection, he set off alone back across the fields raked with murderous fire, in order to obtain a vehicle in which to return and rescue his comrades, one of whom was seriously wounded. When he secured the vehicle he drove back across the dangerous area, rescued his men and returned with them to friendly lines. Although he was wounded in the course of the action, Corporal Bruchu’s self-sacrificing unselfishness undoubtedly save the lives of his men. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Corporal Bruchu, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.