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 First Class Maurice O. Bledsoe (ASN: 16122353), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 6 April 1945, near ****, Germany. When Company A was counterattacked in battalion strength, after having seized the town in a foray across the Rhine, Private First Class Bledsoe’s position was assaulted simultaneously by two enemy platoons. He allowed one platoon to approach frontally to within fifteen yards, and then completely disorganized it with devastating machine gun fire. The other enemy platoon attacked on his flank from houses twenty-five yards distant. Private First Class Bledsoe then directed heavy fire upon the group and stalled the entire enemy attack in his sector. He exposed himself continually by moving under small arms and Panzerfaust fire, from position to position to issue his orders. In the withdrawal from ***** to the River he displayed his weapons only twenty-five to thirty yards at a time, and thus successfully covered the bridgehead for the return trip across the Rhine. Private First Class Bledsoe’s courageous actions and superior leadership reflect great credit upon himself and the Airborne Forces of the United States Army.