The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Joe A. Shuford (ASN: 33454884), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action on 26 November 1944 in France. While Company C was occupying an enemy-held town, Sergeant Shuford was ordered to direct his squad in seizing three houses on the company’s left flank. After accomplishing his mission, he spotted an enemy tank moving from behind a church and approaching along a road which led to the company area. Although he was armed only with a rifle, Sergeant Shuford courageously opened fire on the tank and forced it to button up. When one of the riflemen following the tank hurled a hand grenade at him, he ducked behind a corner of the church. As the smoke cleared, he again opened fire and killed three of the enemy soldiers. He then jumped down the bank of a stream, thereby escaping injury from the heavy bursts of fire directed at him. By his courage and aggressiveness, Sergeant Shuford forced the enemy tank to withdraw and erased a serious threat to the safety of the company.