The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel Horace W. Fuller (MCSN: 0-8062), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while attached to the Office of Strategic Services, United States Naval Forces in Europe, in action against enemy forces in enemy-occupied France, from 28 June 1944 to 15 September 1944. Parachuting into the Hautes-Pyrenees Department of France to organize, arm and lead resistance forces personnel in sabotage and other underground activities against enemy troops and installations, Lieutenant Colonel Fuller assembled men and arms to withstand an attack, on 17 July, of over five hundred German troops, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy without the loss of a man of his own group. Due to the heavy concentration of enemy troops in his area, he voluntarily changed to civilian clothing the better to accomplish his task, making himself liable to treatment as a spy in the event of his capture and, on 14 August, led his Haquis forces in a series of raid and ambushes to liberate Tarbes, in which over six hundred prisoners and much German equipment were taken. Throughout this entire period, he led his forces in sabotage activities, severing the rail and power lines and rendering useless the oil refinery at Pejrouset by cutting off its water supply. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.