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 Mack I. Harrelson (ASN: 34678278), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company I, 133d Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in action on 24 April 1945, in Italy. When his squad was advancing into an enemy-held town, they were pinned down by enemy small arms and machine gun fire. Leaving his men in positions to give him covering fire, Sergeant Harrelson worked his way to within twenty yards of the house, using a drainage ditch as cover. Sergeant Harrelson then boldly rushed to the side of the house and threw a hand grenade into a window where he had previously seen a German firing a machine pistol. Immediately after throwing the grenade, Sergeant Harrelson entered the house and found a wounded German. Intent upon clearing the house, Sergeant Harrelson started up the stairs but was fired upon with pistol fire from above. Throwing his remaining hand grenade, Sergeant Harrelson rushed up after it and captured two wounded Germans and their machine gun. The courage and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Harrelson reflects great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.