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 Sergeant Alex C. Bongiorno (ASN: 36813044), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of the 204th Engineer Combat Battalion, XII Corps, in action against an armed enemy on 3 March 1945, in Germany. During the construction of a footbridge under a heavy concentration of enemy small arms fire a section of the bridge became damaged and had to be replaced. Sergeant Bongiorno voluntarily and with utter disregard for personal safety waded into the stream in plain view of the enemy, and working in the swift cold water with enemy small arms fire hitting all around him, accomplished the necessary repairs so construction could be completed. The gallant actions of Sergeant Bongiorno in the face of withering enemy fire reflect great credit upon himself and uphold the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.