The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Paul E. Fleissner (ASN: 18147961), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 405th Infantry Regiment, 102d Infantry Division, along the Siegfried Line, on 24 February 1945. After his squad was pinned down by enemy fire near Duren, Germany, and the squad leader was wounded, Sergeant Fleissner assumed command. Then, with utter disregard for his own safety, he ordered the squad to seek shelter and cover him while he crawled forward over the shell-swept terrain, firing his weapon as he advanced and neutralized three machine gun positions before he was fatally wounded.