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 Alvin C. Kempson, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 24 March 1945 in Germany. Immediately following the crossing of the Rhine River, Sergeant Kempson and his machine gun section encountered an enemy combat patrol firing on the flank of the rifle company his section was supporting. With well-placed fire from his carbine he killed members of the enemy patrol and after a brief fire fight took two prisoners. Immediately after another patrol was encountered, and Sergeant Kempson unhesitatingly exposed himself to the patrol to place accurate fire on the enemy which initiated the surrender of nineteen additional prisoner and ended the threat to the flank of the rifle company. The courage displayed by Sergeant Kempson in the face of heavy enemy fire reflects highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.