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 Joseph F. Doherty (ASN: 31232117), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 113th Field Artillery Battalion, 30th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 27 December 1944, in Belgium. Corporal Doherty voluntarily left his sheltered position to locate and repair a break in a telephone wire over which an important fire mission was being transmitted. When enemy fire severed the line, he again went out along an open road where a heavy concentration of mortar fire was falling until he had gone from one and one-half miles where he discovered the break. Corporal Doherty made two more trips under the withering fire to repair other breaks. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Corporal Doherty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
CorporalBatallion:
113th Field Artillery BattalionDivision:
30th Infantry DivisionAction Date:
March 26, 1945
Headquarters, 30th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 131 (May 25, 1945)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 Corporal Joseph F. Doherty (ASN: 31232117), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 113th Field Artillery Battalion, 30th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 26 March 1945, in Germany. When the infantry company to which his party was assigned was pinned down by intense enemy fire, Corporal Doherty, realizing that his forward observer would need communications to adjust fire on the enemy, left his protected position and returned to the rear to obtain a radio. Then, accompanied by a radio operator, he carried the radio forward through severe fire to his forward observer. Corporal Doherty’s heroic actions enabled his artillery to place immediate and effective fire on the enemy guns, forcing those men not killed to withdraw and allowing the infantry to proceed and complete its mission. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Corporal Doherty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.