The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant [then Corporal] John M. Fowler (ASN: 13058714), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 3d Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 20 September 1944, about one half mile from ****, Holland. Sergeant Fowler, then acting as a Corporal Squad Leader, immediately organized his squad of men and moved towards the heavily-fortified position around the railroad bridge after crossing the river in the assault wave. As his eight man group approached the underpass of the bridge, it was stopped by menacing sniper fire from the apertures of the fort-like buildings under the bridge. Disregarding his own personal safety, Sergeant Fowler swiftly moved across the open ground to the entrance of the building despite the intense fire. Kicking the door open, he dashed inside and wounded two Germans. Without hesitation he then ran up the stairs and forced fourteen more Germans firing on his men from the second floor to surrender. His courageous actions enabled his squad to move freely and join the remainder of its platoon for the all-out assault on the bridge itself where 270 Germans were subsequently killed or captured. Sergeant Fowler’s aggressive and gallant actions reflect great credit upon himself.