The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry), [then Major] Richard E. Gerard (ASN: 0-328275), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 5 January 1945, near ****, Belgium. Lieutenant Colonel Gerard, Battalion Commander, 1st Battalion, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, during an attack on a determined enemy occupying high ground south of ****, accompanied the assault companies and personally directed the attack. When the assault elements were pinned down by heavy fire, Lieutenant Colonel Gerard moved calmly forward ahead of the leading companies to reconnoiter the enemy strongpoints which were holding up the advance, and determine the most effective method of overcoming them. He then went from position to position under heavy fire to coordinate the elements of his command and got the attack moving again. At one point, when he and an artillery observer found themselves under close-range fire from an enemy machine gun, Lieutenant Colonel Gerard moved over, at great risk to himself, to a friendly tank and personally led it to a position from which it eliminated the machine gun. As on many other occasions during the same campaign, Lieutenant Colonel Gerard’s calmness and complete unconcern for himself were a great inspiration to his men. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, 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.