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 [then Sergeant] Louis G. Kepler, United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of the 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, in action at Breakneck Ridge, Leyte, Philippine Islands, on 10 November 1944. Sergeant Kepler was a squad leader of a light machine gun section of an infantry rifle company. During the withdrawal of the company, which his squad was covering, he succeeded in crawling to his gun and destroying it when further action against the enemy could not be taken. The men in Sergeant Kepler’s squad had all been killed or wounded by extremely heavy enemy machine gun and mortar fire, which continued throughout the time he was destroying his machine gun. Once the gun was put out of action, he assisted in removing the wounded to safety. His outstanding bravery in this instance is notable and reflects great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.