The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Thomas M. Walsh (ASN: 0-1015408), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 21 February 1945, while serving with the 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, near Fazzano, Italy. Lieutenant Walsh volunteered to lead a combat patrol in a raid on German positions. Acting as lead scout, he advanced toward the enemy who were dug in on the forward slope of a steep hill. Nearing the objective, Lieutenant Walsh deployed his men and had started up the hill when several machine guns and machine pistols opened fire. With complete disregard for the danger to which he was exposed, Lieutenant Walsh worked his way forward, crawling through a hail of bullets that narrowly missed him on all sides. From emplacements the enemy threw grenades which exploded all about him, but this courageous officer continued on. At close range he hurled two grenades with deadly accuracy, killing two Germans who manned machine pistols. When a hostile grenade landed close by him, Lieutenant Walsh picked it up and threw it back at the enemy. It had hardly left his hand when it exploded, wounding him in several places. Unable to continue the fight, he moved back. Although painfully wounded, Lieutenant Walsh reorganized his men who had become scattered in the darkness and led them back to the company positions without sustaining any casualties. The outstanding gallantry displayed by Lieutenant Walsh in assaulting the enemy positions through heavy fire exemplifies the finest traditions of the United States Army.