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 Charles W. Sleeper (ASN: 39278403), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with the 995th Field Artillery Battalion, in action on ** February 1944, in the vicinity of ** ***, Italy. When enemy shell fire ignited an ammunition dump within his battery area, Private Sleeper and his comrades left places of comparative safety to extinguish fires which threatened other ammunition and materiel. Through their labor, they were constantly endangered by exploding ammunition from the dump only forty yards away and by enemy shells which landed within twenty yards of their positions. By their courageous action and disregard for their personal safety, Private Sleeper and his comrades saved valuable government property and prevented the spread of the fire to the nearby ammunition. Their courage and devotion to duty reflect the finest traditions of the military service.