Headquarters, 83d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 18 (July 30, 1944)
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry) Marion B. Cooper (ASN: 0-1297844), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 331st Infantry Regiment, 83d Infantry Division, in action on 15 July 1944, near ****, France. When his company, advancing through a heavily wooded area, was pinned down by fire from an enemy tank, Captain Cooper secured an anti-tank rocket launcher and utterly without regard for his own personal safety, crawled through bitter machine gun and artillery fire until he was within range of the tank. He then assumed a kneeling position and with two well placed shots succeeded in crippling the tank thereby enabling anti-tank fire to be brought upon it. By his heroic action the successful attainment of the objective was ensured. Captain Cooper’s coolness, courage, and disregard for personal safety reflect the highest credit upon himself and the finest traditions of the military service.