The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Medical Corps) John S. Houlihan (ASN: 0-0473973), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters, 34th Infantry Division, in action on 8 July 1944 in Italy. When enemy self-propelled guns fired directly into the troops crossing a ridge near Castellina, a company commander and his radio operator were wounded. Major Houlihan, who was then directing the forward movement of his aid station, saw what had happened and immediately ordered litter teams to follow him to the aid of the wounded men. Making his way through the extremely heavy fire, Major Houlihan displayed outstanding courage and coolness in tending the wounds of the injured and assisting in their evacuation to a covered spot behind the ridge. Realizing that other wounded lay atop the shell-torn ridge, Major Houlihan raced again to the impact area, and with complete disregard for his own safety, prepared other wounded soldiers for evacuation. Major Houlihan’s courageous actions on the shelled and dust-choked ridge were directly responsible for saving the lives of several of the men, and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.