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 Rex L. O’Neal (ASN: 34505962), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in the vicinity of ****, France, 17 July 1944. Private O’Neal, gunner in a machine gun squad, supported the advance of his unit. In a strong enemy counterattack, the members of the machine gun crew, with the exceptions of Private O’Neal and another soldier, were killed. Undaunted by the peril of his position, he and the other surviving member of the crew remained at the gun and continued to cover the unit’s withdrawal until he was seriously wounded by an enemy artillery shell. The conspicuous courage of Private O’Neal, his zeal for the success of his unit and his loyalty to duty, contributed immeasurably to the success of his unit’s mission and reflects high credit upon him as a soldier.