The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Field Artillery) Richard A. Crecelius (ASN: 0-1177354), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with the 79th Field Artillery Group on 30 September 1944, in Germany. Captain Crecelius was assigned the mission of establishing an observation post to bring artillery fire upon the town of Palenberg, from which hostile troops were hindering the advance of our infantry. Under cover of darkness, he passed through infantry front lines and crossed a dangerous mine field to reach a church in a nearby village. Upon reaching the church on the following morning, Captain Crecelius discovered that it had been prepared for demolition by the enemy. He severed the wires connecting the explosives and established an observation post in the tower from which he adjusted devastating artillery fire upon the enemy, thereby materially assisting the infantry in obtaining its objective.