The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Paul C. Sheeline (ASN: 0-579204), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with the Office of Strategic Services, in action in France, from 30 August to 13 September 1944. Parachuting into the Ardeche, on 30 August 1944, to act as liaison officer between the French Forces of the Interior and certain American operational groups then moving into the area, First Lieutenant Sheeline helped plan and took active part in the attack on the city of Lyons, on 3 September 1944. At 1100 hours he led five French Maquis, armed with rifles, grenades, and sub-machine guns, into a barricaded building, near the Place Bellicourt, and took the buildings, despite the risks of sub-machine gun fire from above. During the remainder of the day and on the next, First Lieutenant Sheeline accompanied small Maquis groups in other successful searches for snipers. As a result of the attack, the city was cleared of all enemy elements and made available for occupation by Allied Forces in a minimum of time, thereby reflecting great credit upon First Lieutenant Sheeline and the Armed Forces of the United States.