The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Miles Orville Shelley (ASN: 20711126), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 164th Infantry Regiment, 23d Infantry Division (Americal), in action against enemy forces at Bougainville, Solomon Islands, on 1 April 1944. Despite the imminence of contacting dug-in enemy on higher ground favorable to them, and despite not being a member of the leading platoon, Sergeant Shelley courageously volunteered to be lead scout rather than endanger a less-experienced man. In this capacity he led his company up a steep hill and discovered the hostile position. While reporting to the platoon leader he was fired upon. Instead of seeking cover, he immediately charged the enemy alone and unaided, and was seriously wounded. He lay unable to move but continued heroically to call out exact directions for artillery fire in the face of close-range rifle, machine-gun and mortar fire. Completely willing to sacrifice his own life fore those of his comrades, he urged them to leave him behind and withdraw, for an artillery concentration was about to start in the area where he lay. Immediately thereafter, Sergeant Shelley was killed by an enemy fire burst. Following the withdrawal a devastating barrage was laid down by the artillery. Sergeant Shelley’s exemplary courage and great sacrifice were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the United States Army.