The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Robert C. Kellner (ASN: 0423589), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 101st Airborne Division. On 15 – 16 February 1945, he volunteered to lead a patrol whose mission was to bring back a prisoner from the vicinity of Uhbruck Hill on the enemy side of the Moder River in France. Standing in icy water, he personally supervised and assisted his men in the construction of a bridge essential to the river crossing. Accompanying his lead scout who spoke German, he advanced into a wooded area on the enemy side of the river. Covering the scout with his machine gun, they shouted into foxholes in search of the enemy. Reaching an outpost, by clever deception, Lieutenant Kellner and the scout were able to persuade an enemy soldier to leave his covered position and become a prisoner. Observing a second enemy soldier attempting to escape, Lieutenant Kellner ran into the woods after the German but lost him in the darkness. Lieutenant Kellner then led his patrol back to friendly lines without the loss of a single man. During this hazardous mission, he secured such valuable information about the enemy such as the locations, command posts, boundaries and the enemy main line of resistance. He further learned much about enemy counter-patrol activities, their procedure when challenging and the location of mined areas near the railroad. His actions were in accordance with the military traditions of the United States.