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 Technician Fifth Grade Bernard Smach (ASN: 12098565), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 3 April 1945, while serving with Headquarters Battery, 913th Field Artillery Battalion, 88th Infantry Division, in the vicinity of Crevalcore, Italy. The leading elements of the 351st Infantry Regiment encountered intense machine gun fire, sniper and mortar fire, coming from a German road block. Corporal Smach, a radio operators with the forward observer, realizing that a nearby home was the only suitable observation point in this area, voluntarily ran to the house alone through intense fire. He immediately went to the top floor and radioed the location of the Germans to higher headquarters and adjusted fire on the enemy. During the thirty minutes that he remained in this conspicuous position, the Germans made every effort within their power to force him from his vantage point. They put a heavy barrage of mortar fire all around the house and succeeded in hitting it four times. Corporal Smach remained at his post until his artillery adjustment was perfect and the Germans were forced to retreat. As soon as he saw the enemy retreating, Corporal Smach ran forward over flat coverless terrain with the heavy radio on his back to repeat the performance at the next building. A German machine gun killed him instantly as he tried to enter the next building. Corporal Smach’s gallant conduct in this action is a magnificent example to all who witnessed it.