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 Clifford J. McGee (ASN: 35595612), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 753d Tank Battalion, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 15 March 1945, in the vicinity of Mietesheim, France. Although painfully wounded when his tank received a direct hit from an enemy self-propelled gun, Private McGee lifted a seriously wounded crewman from the tank, shielding him from enemy small arms fire with his own body. Observing a wounded infantryman, Private McGee carried him fifty yards to the shelter of his tank. He then crossed 500 yards of open terrain under intense small arms fire to lead medical aid to the wounded. Despite his painful wound, he later assisted in evacuating the wounded to safety under cover of darkness. The magnificent courage and outstanding gallantry under fire of Private McGee reflect the highest credit upon himself and are in keeping with the finest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.