The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private Arnold B. Simmons, Jr. (ASN: 34811876), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of the *** Engineer Combat Battalion, XII Corps, in action against an armed enemy on 17 – 18 January 1945, in Luxembourg. Private Simmons was a member of a crew which was constructing an Infantry footbridge over the Sauer River in support of an assault crossing b the *** Infantry Regiment early the morning of 18 January 1945. When the bridge had been partially completed, heavy enemy machine gun fire was directed on the site from the shore. One of the members of the bridge crew who was working in the water was struck in the leg by this intense fire and fell under the water. Private Simmons, with complete disregard of his own personal safety, immediately jumped into the water and, with the assistance of another enlisted man, succeeded in grasping the wounded man, pulling him to the bank and into the shelter of one of the floating units. Private Simmons remained with the man until the heavy fire on the site subsided. He then helped three other men pull the wounded man from the river and placed him on an improvised litter. Then, though he was thoroughly wet and the temperature was well below freezing, Private Simmons elected to return to the river and remain with another man who had been wounded, until medical aid men could be found. By his unfaltering courage, outstanding initiative and resourcefulness, he greatly contributed in saving the life of one man and was solely responsible for securing medical attention for another as soon as was humanly possible. His gallant actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Corps of Engineers, and the United States Army.