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 (Quartermaster Corps) Leonard A. Kuehnel (ASN: 0-1584482), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Gasoline Supply Company, THIRD U.S. Army, in action against the enemy on 9 august 1944, in the vicinity of St. Martin de Landville, France, during THIRD United States Army operations. With complete disregard for his personal safety, First Lieutenant Kuehnel entered a gasoline dump and carried eleven wounded enlisted men to safety in spit of the fact hat the area was saturated with gasoline, and enemy aircraft were still in the vicinity. He then extinguished the fire which had been started by enemy tracer bullets. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Kuehnel, 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.