The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Stewart W. O’Shell (ASN: RA-13336751), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company H, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 6 September 1950 in the vicinity of Poncho, Korea. Corporal O’Shell was a member of a machine gun squad which was supporting a rifle company. While the gun crew was digging in on the forward slope of a hill, the enemy launched an assault and three members of the squad were wounded. Although the entire area was swept by intense enemy small arms, automatic weapons and mortar fire, Corporal O’Shell leaped from his sheltered position and through the hail of fire dashed to the top of the hill to a mortar forward observer. Instructing the observer to call for a smoke screen and calling upon the riflemen on the ridge to engage the enemy with a strong base of fire, he plunged back to the machine gun position. Under a steady concentration of hostile fire and completely disregarding his personal safety, he made the trip over the hill three times, each time carrying a wounded comrade to safety. The gallantry and devotion to his fallen comrades displayed by Corporal O’Shell reflect the highest credit upon himself are in keeping with the fine traditions of the military service.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class [then Sergeant] Stewart W. O’Shell (ASN: RA-13336751), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company H, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 13 March 1951, in the vicinity of Yudong-ni, Korea. Company G was attacking high ground held by a well-entrenched enemy. Sergeant O’Shell, section leader of a machine gun section attached to Company G, was directing supporting fire. Intense enemy machine gun and automatic weapons fire had slowed the advance of the leading platoon. Sergeant O’Shell realized that his guns were not giving maximum protection to the advancing element, so with complete disregard for his own safety he proceeded forward through enemy fire with two boxes of ammunition and a light machine gun to an exposed position from which he could bring effective fire on the enemy positions that were delaying the advance. His guns brought such withering fire on the enemy that he was forced to withdraw. The gallant conduct displayed by Sergeant O ‘Shell reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.