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 (Field Artillery) Hilston Thomas Kilcollins (ASN: 0-1165887), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 158th Field Artillery Battalion, 45th Infantry Division, in action on the **th and **th of July, 1943, near *****, Sicily. Lieutenant Kilcollins obtained permission to, and conducted, a party of three volunteers that started on foot across extremely mountainous terrain at sundown on ** July 1943 to an observation point ten miles within enemy territory. They captured six prisoners, and at dawn were approximately 300 yards from an enemy observation post. By relaying commands, effective fire was adjusted on enemy installations. When discovered and fired upon by small arms, the party returned fire, inflicted casualties upon the enemy, then continued to a more advanced observation post. When driven from there by automatic fire to covered positions, they remained in observation of enemy operations and communicated with their Command Post until dark. The rugged courage, initiative and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Kilcollins exemplify the highest traditions of the military service.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Hilston Thomas Kilcollins (ASN: 0-1165887), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Battery C, 158th Field Artillery Battalion, FIFTH Army, in action on 25 September 1943, near Castelmuovo, Italy. First Lieutenant Kilcollins accompanied an infantry company as a forward artillery observer. The unit was advancing over a bare knoll when an intense concentration of hostile machine gun and mortar fire from a wooded hill halted the company and inflicted several casualties. First Lieutenant Kilcollins crawled to the top of the knoll and exposed himself to the fire of machine guns in order to observe and adjust artillery fire on the enemy positions. Machine gun bullets struck near him, spraying him with dirt and rocks; yet he continued to adjust fire on enemy weapons, silencing the two machine guns and mortars. Through First Lieutenant Kilcollins’ heroic and effective actions, the company was able to advance and capture the hill.