The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Martin E. Middleton (ASN: 0-1299926), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 7 January 1945, near ****, Belgium. When a combat patrol from the First Platoon, Company F became pinned down by murderous fire from an enemy strongpoint, First Lieutenant Middleton, Third Platoon Leader, immediately and without orders, organized a rescue patrol for a flanking attack on the enemy positions. This action was met by fierce enemy resistance, and First Lieutenant Middleton returned for smoke shells to blind the enemy positions. The smoke laid down permitted the safe withdrawal of only two of the wounded whereupon, First Lieutenant Middleton then laid down a heavy base of flanking fire on the strongpoint. Under heavy return fire he moved into the area raked by enemy fire and personally directed the evacuation of all the stragglers and wounded. He himself carried one seriously wounded man to safety and killed two Germans who were attempting to loot our dead. Through First Lieutenant Middleton’s personal and voluntary efforts, a total of eight enemy were either killed or wounded, and all the members of the beleaguered combat patrol returned to safety. His gallant conduct reflects highest credit on the Armed Forces.