The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technical Sergeant Cecil G. Eckley (ASN: 37144812), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action in the vicinity of ****, Germany, on 12 December 1944. On 12 December, Company B, 1st Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, as part of the 1st Battalion action, crossed the **** River and engaged strong forces of the enemy in the village of ****. Sergeant Eckley, accompanied by five members of his machine gun section, reached the company objective and occupied a small group of buildings. For a period of nine hours, Sergeant Eckley gallantly directed the action of his section against repeated enemy attacks and adjusted mortar and artillery fire upon enemy positions to the front. From a strategic position, he and his men frustrated numerous enemy attempts to cross a nearby creek. After direct artillery fire followed by rocket-launcher and grenade attacks, superior forces of the enemy succeeded in entering the buildings occupied by this machine gun section. Exercising complete control of the situation, Sergeant Eckley skillfully led his men to another building on the other side of the creek, carried on the fire fight until dark, then found places of concealment where they remained until morning when friendly troops reached the area in force. Sergeant Eckley’s outstanding leadership and bravery under fire were major factors in securing the battalion flank and in maintaining the bridgehead over the **** River. 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.