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 Donald Raphael Schemensky, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy from 20 December 1944 to 21 December 1944, in Belgium. During a severe enemy counterattack, Staff Sergeant Schemensky and a comrade volunteered to lay wire to a building 20 yards from the enemy over exposed ground covered by small arms fire. They followed the assaulting troops on the following day laying wire as soon as the enemy was cleared from their position, and assisted in evacuating several wounded men. Their heroic actions in laying and maintaining the wire enabled artillery and mortar fire to be maintained, thus aiding in a successful assault on the enemy positions. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Staff Sergeant Schemensky, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.