The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Medical Corps) Paul V. Kiehl (ASN: 0-26397), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters, 363d Medical Battalion, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 18 March 1945, in the vicinity of Bliesransbach, Germany. Seeing two men recently injured by a mine in a field some 100 yards from the road, Lieutenant Colonel Kiehl, despite warning from nearby soldiers that three other casualties had occurred in the same field and without regard for his personal safety, picked his way through the heavily mined field to one of the wounded who had been blinded. After reassuring this man and directing the care of the other, Lieutenant Colonel Kiehl led the blinded soldier by the had back through the field to safety. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, 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.