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 Joseph J. Caleca (ASN: 36584257), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action near ****, Germany, on 23 February 1945. During fierce house-to-house fighting, Sergeant Caleca, an assistant squad leader, braved enemy machine gun and rifle fire to dash across a street and carry his wounded squad leader to safety. When another of his comrades was wounded later that day and left lying in a doorway covered by hostile fire, Sergeant Caleca again voluntarily exposed himself to withering fire to bring the soldier to a sheltered position. His intrepidity and devotion to wounded comrades are in accord with the military traditions of the United States.