The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technical Sergeant Merlin C. Godsell, United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company C, 386th Infantry Regiment, 97th Infantry Division, in action at Drabenderhohe, Germany, on the afternoon of 12 April 1945. In an attack on the town, fire from enemy automatic weapons isolated approximately half a rifle platoon from the remainder of the company. Technical Sergeant Godsell, acting leader of the platoon, collected the isolated men in the face of severe enemy fire, advanced and destroyed for enemy automatic weapons. The destruction of these weapons left an unprotected flank which his company subsequently exploited to capture the town. The gallantry and leadership displayed by Technical Sergeant Godsell on this occasion reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Armed Forces.