The President of the United States of America 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. Authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Earl F. McNeely (ASN: 18046551), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Battery C, 456th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 9 – 10 July 1943, about five miles southwest of ****, Sicily, and later about six miles northwest of ****, Sicily. In both instances Corporal McNeely manned his gun against low-flying ***** planes strafing the gun positions of his battery. Corporal McNeely remained at his post in the face of heavy strafing and fired at the planes. Two of the planes fired upon began to smoke heavily, rapidly lost altitude and were believed to have crashed. Later in the day, at another location, and again in the face of heavy strafing, a third **** plane, was hit and was observed rapidly losing altitude. In each instance the remaining planes flew away, permitting his battery to continue its mission.