The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant John F. Arledge, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with an Engineer Battalion on the FIFTH Army front in Italy during World War II. While Sergeant Arledge and his crew were constructing a bridge, the enemy subjected the party to a concentrated artillery barrage. Sergeant Arledge assisted in administering first aid to a number of men. Then he volunteered to bring a truck out of the shelled area in order to evacuate the wounded. Working over difficult terrain under intense fire, he completed his task, thereby saving lives and at the same time retrieving critically needed equipment. His action was in the highest traditions of the military service.