The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Joseph A. Szwedo (ASN: 0-1290496), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Anti-tank Company, 133d Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in action on 1 October 1943, in the vicinity of Montefalcione, Italy. Second Lieutenant Szwedo, in command of a mine platoon, was given the mission of checking the roads in the regimental sector for enemy mines, in order that the regimental transportation could follow the troops as rapidly as possible. In carrying out this mission, Second Lieutenant Szwedo went ahead of his platoon on reconnaissance and by contacting Italian civilians located the mines long before the sweeping details arrived. The road was under heavy machine-gun and artillery fire, but with utter disregard for his own personal safety, Second Lieutenant Szwedo aggressively continued his reconnaissance to complete his mission. Through this action, the mine platoon was able to clear the road without delay thereby enabling the regimental transportation to move forward without loss. Second Lieutenant Szwedo’s aggressiveness, coolness under fire and utter disregard for his personal safety were an inspiration to his command and a credit to the Armed Forces of the United States.