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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Ernest L. Fieberling (ASN: 0-1311553), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 361st Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division, on 15 September 1944, near Monticelli, Italy. Lieutenant Fieberling, Executive Officer of his Company, observed the light machine guns going into position to give supporting fire. As the gunner of the second machine gun squad went forward with his gun, he was seriously wounded by a sniper bullet. Lieutenant Fieberling, realizing the importance of getting the weapon into action as quickly as possible, rushed forward into the enemy small arms fire which had at no time diminished in intensity. Although enemy machine gunners and snipers had quickly picked him up and were firing at him in an attempt to stop his advance, he secured the abandoned weapon and continued forward to a firing position. As Lieutenant Fieberling was in the act of putting the machine gun back into action, he was killed by a sniper bullet. Lieutenant Fieberling’s coolness and determination in the face of the enemy, his indomitable courage and his gallant self-sacrifice will remain as an inspiration to his men and to the Armed Forces of the United States.