The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Marshall W. Howell (ASN: 35694001), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company K, 133d Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in action on 23 October 1944, in Italy. Private First Class Howell’s company moved forward approximately two hundred yards toward a small ridge in order to protect the adjacent company’s left flank. In the attempt to capture this hill they encountered intense enemy machine gun fire. In order to reach this objective the machine gun had to be destroyed. Without hesitation, Private First Class Howell volunteered for the hazardous task and started forward over the fire-swept ground. By taking all available cover and crawling forward under intense enemy fire, Private First Class Howell managed to get within thirty yards of the enemy position. He then threw a hand grenade squarely into the machine gun nest, killing or wounding the crew and destroying the gun. The courage and aggressive spirit displayed by Private First Class Howell reflects great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.