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 Mayo S. Heath (ASN: 0-961830/38427624), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 15 – 16 October 1944, near ****, Holland. Private First Class Heath, with one comrade, voluntarily patrolled to a point more than a mile behind enemy lines and remained in hostile territory more than twenty-four hours. They noted all German activity in the area and pin-pointed installations. On the return trip, they walked boldly through the German positions in the dark, greeting enemy soldiers with the word “comrade.” After crossing the dyke and canal, they decided to return to the hostile lines and bring out a prisoner. They greeted the first German found in a foxhole and forced him to leave quietly and returned to friendly lines. The prisoner and the information secured by Private First Class Heath and his companion proved of the highest value. His daring and efficient performance of a valuable service secured the first vital data in the sector, all previous patrols having failed to penetrate the enemy lines. The courage and skill displayed by Private First Class Heath was a credit to himself and to the Airborne Forces of the United States Army.