The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technician Fourth Grade [then Corporal] Darrell E. Clark, United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company I, 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, on 2 December 1943, at Mount la Rocca, Italy. In a desperate defensive stand against a heavy enemy attack, he was at the fore of a squad of men and inspired them to hold against the greatly superior enemy force. Shooting his rifle at the enemy among rocks less than three feet away and standing his ground amid a hail of enemy explosives, he lobbed grenades into the air and over only several feet so that they would land among the closely fighting Germans. Shouting words of encouragement to his comrades in the fierce fight, shifting them for better firepower, and disregarding the hail of enemy explosives and concentrated fire, as he bore the brunt of the main attack, Technician Clark enabled the group of men to hold a constant front as another small force flanked the enemy unit and started a stream of fire from the rear. Through his courageous action, in which he gave replacements an example of daring and resourceful fighting that heartened them in their own heroic action, Technician Clark was instrumental in forcing the flight of a German company, which left its entire equipment on the field, making it possible for the battalion to take up the attack.