The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Colonel Henry S. Blesse, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the as Commanding Officer of the 56th Evacuation Hospital, in Italy, in action against the enemy at Anzio, in February 1944. Colonel Blesse rushed from his hospital to extinguish a fire in an adjacent hospital that had been set by enemy shell fire. Colonel Blesse was knocked down by a nearby shell burst but picked himself up and disposed of a burning generator that threatened to set fire to hospital tents. He later took charge of the shelled hospital, assuring prompt and orderly care of the wounded. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.