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 [then Private First Class] Daniel P. Gillespie (ASN: 39566236), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 2d Battalion, 222d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 24 January 1945, near Schweighausen, France. When the enemy penetrated our Moder River Line, Private Gillespie held his fire until the fanatically attacking force was within 50 yards of his machine gun emplacement. Opening fire with devastating accuracy, he forced the enemy to withdraw with a loss of many casualties. When the hostile force again attempted to attack his position by a flanking maneuver executed behind a river bank, Private Gillespie, unable to direct fire upon the advancing Germans, concentrated a terrific barrage upon the automatic weapons supporting the maneuver, silencing three of them. In the last of the fire fight, his machine gun ceased firing because of a mechanical failure. Realizing the need for the tactical information he had gained, he then withdrew to his command post where he passed on to higher headquarters the extent of the German break-through. Through his gallant actions, Private Gillespie contributed immeasurably to the successful defense of Alsace.