The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Air Corps) Elgin D. Andross (ASN: 0-347237), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters, 313th Troop Carrier Group, IX Troop Carrier Command, NINTH Air Force, in action on 24 September 1944. Captain Andross was in command of approximately 100 glider pilots being evacuated by truck convoy from a glider landing are in Holland. Approximately 4 miles south of Veghel the convoy was ambushed by a road block set up by enemy troops supported by tanks in an unexpected break through our lines. Because of the narrowness of the road the close packed truck column was immobilized by the heavy enemy fire which set the leading vehicles ablaze and threatened to engulf the entire column. Captain Andross immediately took command of the situation, and ordered the glider pilots and other personnel to de-truck and take cover in a narrow ditch. Thereupon Captain Andross deployed certain of the glider pilots to return enemy fire and, with complete disregard for his own safety, exposed himself to enemy fire in directing the glider pilots to mount the trucks and move them back down the road. As a result of his fearless leadership, seventeen trucks were saved from destruction and the glider pilots and other personnel were withdrawn to friendly territory with minimum casualties despite opposition from superior, seasoned enemy forces. The exceptional courage and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Andross on this occasion were in the highest traditions of the United States Army Air Forces.