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) Charles C. Nalle, United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company H, 2d Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Following an amphibious landing behind enemy lines, near *****, Sicily, the morning of ** August 1943, Captain Nalle set up his heavy weapons observation point on the bare eastern slope of a hill on which the 2d Battalion established its defensive position. From this post, he assisted in control of both supporting armored artillery and naval gun fire so successfully that counterattacks launched by the enemy were beaten off. Although the O.P. was hit by intermittent artillery, machine gun, and sniper fire which often fell within a few yards of him, Captain Nalle stuck to his post from 0800 to 1800 hours and continued fire direction and observation activities. At 1700, an enemy shell registered directly on the O.P., instantly killing two of the six men there, and fatally wounding a third, an officer. Captain Nalle removed the wounded officer under continuing fire to a position of comparative safety some 50 yards away and rendered emergency first aid. As the shell burst destroyed his communication lines and rendered his O.P. useless, Captain Nalle moved down the exposed slope with artillery shell fragments literally striking at his feet as he went to return to his company and move his men and weapons to new, less exposed positions. His bravery and devotion to duty, regardless of cost, reflects great credit on himself and the military service.