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 Clifford D. Ferdig (ASN: 6857034), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Battery B, 861st Field Artillery Battalion, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 8 April 1945, in the vicinity of Stein, Germany. During an attack, Private First Class Ferdig, radio operator with a forward observer party, performed his duty while under constant enemy fire. Although painfully wounded by a shell fragment and ordered to seek medical aid, he refused to leave his forward observer without communication and continued to transmit fire commands from the exposed position. The intrepidity with which Private First Class Ferdig accomplished his mission was an inspiration to all those who witnessed his action and were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.