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 (Infantry) Marion Francis Felt (ASN: 0-1323116), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company A, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 92d Infantry Division, on 5 April 1945, in Italy. First Lieutenant Felt led his platoon against hostile defenses consisting of dugouts and machine gun emplacements on Hill Georgia. Moving at the head of the platoon with his scouts, he led the way through a minefield, and when the supporting barrage lifted, sent one squad to cover the vulnerable left flank and led the rest of the platoon directly toward the summit of the hill. Fifty yards from the top, they were subjected to heavy machine gun, mortar, rifle and grenade fire from the foe. When the mortar fire ceased momentarily, the flanking squad quickly neutralized some of the positions. First Lieutenant Felt then launched a grenade attack supplemented by the fire of his bazooka team on the remaining enemy dugouts. He crawled from squad to squad over exposed ground only 20 yards from the foe encouraging his men to keep up the fight in spite of the mounting casualty toll inflicted by enemy grenades. First Lieutenant Felt personally killed one enemy and wounded three during this action but, under his leadership, the depleted platoon won and held the summit of Hill Georgia. His aggressive leadership reflects great credit on the gallant traditions of the United States Army.