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 Joaquim Marques (ASN: 32599425), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 337th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division, in action on 24 April 1945, in Italy. When a group of enemy opened fire on his motorized task force from a position to his flank, and all personnel were ordered to abandon vehicles and take cover, Private First Class Marques, a machine gunner, dismounted his machine gun from a tripod on the vehicle, dashed forward forty yards, and with the assistance of another soldier, set up his weapon and commenced firing, despite the hail of enemy fire around him. By his accurate devastating fire he prevented the enemy from retreating and forced them to surrender, which resulted in the killing of three, wounding of seven and capture of eighty German soldiers. By his exceptionally heroic action under fire, Private First Class Marques was highly instrumental in neutralizing the enemy action, preventing potential casualties among the task force and enabling it to continue its rapid advance.