The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Ronald L. Echelbarger, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with the 7th Infantry Division during the Kwajalein campaign, on 3 February 1944. Private First Class Echelbarger’s flame thrower was hit by an enemy shall fragment, causing a leak in the hose. Covering the leak with his hand and disregarding the person danger resulting from the saturation of his clothing with the highly inflammable fuel, he used eight fuel charges and destroyed five Japanese pillboxes and blockhouses.