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 First Class Charles L. Burden (ASN: 38632339), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 254th Infantry Regiment, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 19 March, 1945, in the vicinity of Ensheim, Germany. Although four men a short time before had been either killed or wounded on the same mission he was about to undertake, Private First Class Burden, nevertheless, volunteered to check a wire line and repair it where required. Under severe artillery, mortar, and machine gun fire, Private First Class Burden went calmly about his mission of checking the line and splicing the breaks. For one and one-half hours, Private First Class Burden performed his solitary mission constantly endangered by shell fire and small arms fire. The magnificent courage and outstanding gallantry under fire of Private First Class Burden reflect the highest credit upon himself and are in keeping with the finest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.