The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Max H. Shirey (ASN: 34425485), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 21 December 1944, near ****, Belgium. Private First Class Shirey, a BAR Gunner, was moving with his platoon across a river when the Germans started a vicious counterattack. Without a moment’s hesitation, Private First Class Shirey manned his BAR, destroying enemy gunners manning heavy caliber machine guns until his platoon was secure. While returning to the platoon, Private First Class Shirey was the object of heavy enemy automatic weapons fire. He halted and from a standing position returned fire, eliminating enemy members of a machine gun crew until this weapon was silenced. The conduct and gallantry of Private First Class Shirey were in keeping with the high traditions of the Airborne Forces of the United States Army.