Arthur F. Richter

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Arthur F. Richter (0-2055237), First Lieutenant (Infantry), [then Second Lieutenant], U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 756th Tank Battalion, 3d Infantry Division. On the afternoon of 16 March 1945, First Lieutenant Richter, in command of a platoon of five tanks in support of an infantry battalion, attacked the town of Utweiler, Germany, which was strongly held by German Infantry, 9 armored self-propelled guns, a 77-mm. anti-tank gun, and 3 flak wagons. Preceding the infantry by about 150 yards, his tank led the attack all the way and knocked out 4 self-propelled guns. During half the action, his turret was jammed, forcing him to aim his 76-mm. gun by turning his tank, thereby being further exposed. Throughout the action he exposed his head and shoulders outside the turret to enemy artillery, machine gun, and small arms fire. He was so close to the enemy that he personally killed a German with his pistol from the turret. He cleared machine guns and riflemen from the buildings to allow the infantry to advance. By his courage and exceptional skill, First Lieutenant Richter made it possible for the town to be taken and to break the main German defense before the Siegfried Line.