The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Thomas E. Davis (ASN: 35167149), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 27th Infantry Division at Saipan, Mariana Islands, on 17 June 1944. When the light machine gun section of which Private First Class Davis was a gunner received a direct hit by an enemy mortar shell, killing or wounding all the non-commissioned officers in the section, he assumed command and put the guns in action to cover the attack of his company. He then supervised the evacuation of the wounded. By his action, Private First Class Davis contributed greatly to the accomplishment of his company’s mission.