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 John J. Towey (ASN: 37034304), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action in the vicinity of ****, France, on 1 October 1944. The 3d Battalion, *** Infantry Regiment, was assigned the mission of relieving another unit in the ****. While moving behind presumably friendly lines, the leading rifle company, with a machine gun platoon attached, was so suddenly attacked by a strong enemy force, that the men became confused and sought cover. Sergeant Towey, a squad leader, acting as platoon leader of the machine gun platoon, held his ground and returned the enemy fire. In order to keep his own men in position, and to rally some of the riflemen to assist his platoon, it was necessary for Sergeant Towey to expose himself to the enemy fire. So successful was he, in rallying the riflemen and in directing the operations of his platoon, that the platoon repulsed the enemy attack, reached its objective, and captured thirty-four of the enemy. Sergeant Towey’s leadership, forcefulness, initiative and courage constitute such gallantry in action as to be in accord with the military traditions of the United States.