Robert B. Kirkpatrick

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Captain Robert B. Kirkpatrick, 01285958, Infantry, 314th Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy on 25 and 26 June 1944 in France. Despite a knee injury sustained before going into action, Captain Kirkpatrick personally led his company in the assault on an enemy fortification embracing three casemates on ascending levels in a cliff overlooking the city of Cherbourg. Captain Kirkpatrick’s company stormed the cliff under heavy fire from pill boxes on either flank and successively captured each of the three levels together with some 400 prisoners and materiel. The assault was accomplished in the face of point blank fire from artillery and machine guns and through a maze of barbed wire entanglements and anti-tank obstacles. Captain Kirkpatrick again injured his knee during the action when he stumbled into a declivity while carrying a wounded officer to safety. For his outstanding leadership and unceasing devotion to duty under the most hazardous circumstances Captain Kirkpatrick reflects highest credit on himself and the armed forces of the United States.