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 Private First Class Vincent J. Kleine (ASN: 15086693), United States Army, for gallantry in action serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action in the **** River Sector, France, 30 July 1944. When an enemy machine gun pinned down his company and a section of an adjoining unit, Private Kleine and another enlisted man voluntarily undertook to envelop the enemy position with a machine gun. During his endeavor to destroy the enemy gun, he discovered a nearby farmhouse to be occupied by the enemy, directed his fire upon the dwelling, and killed or wounded ten of the enemy and routed the remainder. He then crept to his original objective and destroyed the enemy machine gun with hand grenades. While crawling back to his platoon, Private Kleine was killed by enemy fire. The intrepid action of Private Kleine, his gallantry in action and devotion to duty are in accord with the military traditions of the United States.