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 Clifford Curtis Letson (ASN: 14069297), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in the face of enemy action while serving with the XII Air Support Command, TWELFTH Air Force, during the landing operations near *****, Sicily, on ** July 1943. Sergeant Letson, a member of the advance echelon of ** Fighter Group, was a passenger on an LST which was landing troops and supplies on the beach. The nature of the beach made it necessary that pontoons be attached to the front of the ship in order that vehicles might be driven ashore. As the pontoons were being adjusted, the LST’s were subjected to a dive bombing attack and the ship alongside that on which Sergeant Letson was riding received a direct hit in the ammunition magazine. As a result, many soldiers and sailors were blown overboard and others leaped into the water to escape the burning vessel. Because of a strong ebb time and high waves, there was imminent danger of these men drowning. In spite of the fact that there was grave danger from flying debris and exploding ammunition from the damaged vessel, Sergeant Letson with three or four other men, hurriedly proceeded out onto a pontoon which was attached at one end to the ship, and dragged several of the helpless men out of the water. He stayed on the free-swinging pontoon while it was being pushed alongside the damaged vessel, and assisted wounded men aboard his own ship until all personnel had been evacuated from the burning LST. The danger in the situation was enhanced by the fact that enemy bombers were overhead during the whole time. The selfless devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Letson in exposing himself to great danger in order to save the lives of others soldiers, reflects great credit upon himself and the military service of the United States.