The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Harmon D. Morris (ASN: 38396122), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action in the **** Sector, Normandy, France, 11 July 1944. In the operation against ****, Private Morris, a rifleman, was covering the advance of his mortar section which soon was pinned down by enemy machine gun fire. Maneuvering toward the enemy emplacement, Private Morris was discovered by the enemy gun crew, who turned their weapon to fire upon him, but as he was then sufficiently close to the position, he killed the enemy crew and destroyed the weapon, as a result of which his mortar section was enabled to advance. The courageous actions of Private Morris constitute such gallantry in action as to be in accord with the military traditions of the United States.