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 Bernard L. Fuelling (ASN: 39411585), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 275th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division, on 3 January 1945. When Phillipsbourg, France, was surrounded on three sides by the enemy, Private First Class Fuelling, a messenger, volunteered to man an armored scout car which was under heavy enemy mortar and artillery fire. Leaving the comparative safety of a house, he maneuvered the vehicle across the village, and after facing it into frontal fire assisted the gunner until the two enemy positions which were firing on the battalion command post were knocked out. Then, to provide a guide for requested tank reinforcements, he drove the vehicle along the main roads, under hostile fire, until it would run no more owing to enemy inflicted damage.