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 [then Private] Harold Wittenberg (ASN: 12086072), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company K, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in action on 5 January 1944, in the vicinity of San Vittore, Italy. Four times during the day, Private First Class Wittenberg, a platoon runner, in full view of enemy snipers and machine gunners, crossed through an open place on the approach to San Vittore and ran the gauntlet of snipers within the town to deliver vital messages calling for reinforcements and ammunition for the almost surrounded platoon. On one trip across the open stretch of ground a man who was accompanying him was killed by an enemy sniper, but the constant and extreme danger did not deter Private First Class Wittenberg from fulfilling his mission. Private First Class Wittenberg’s courage and sense of duty to his comrades was exemplary and a credit to the Armed Forces of the United States.