The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Ernest R. Purvis (ASN: 0-249070), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy from 20 June 1944 to 27 June 1944, in France. During the campaign on the Cotentin Peninsula, climaxed by the battle for Cherbourg, Colonel Purvis repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire in order to personally lead his troops into action. He maintained constant personal contact with his company commanders and his men, and when casualties were high he went directly into the most dangerous zones of action in order to impart confidence to his command. He successfully led his battalion over three kilometers of terrain which was infested with enemy pill boxes, anti-tank obstacles, mines and booby traps. When the battalion had its left flank exposed to enemy machine gun fire Colonel Purvis rallied his men and personally led them on to assault and capture several prepared defensive positions from which the enemy had been pouring a withering fire. For his gallant leadership and unswerving devotion to duty in the face of tremendous hazards, Colonel Purvis reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.