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 Joseph E. McCary (ASN: 33814485), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 254th Infantry Regiment, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 3 March 1945, in the vicinity of Hartungshof, Germany. Lying in a mined area with five other wounded men, Private McCary, seeing that aid was not coming, started to crawl from the mined area. Although himself seriously wounded and suffering great pain, he made his way slowly out of the mine field. Continuing to the nearest town, he notified the company there of the wounded men. A rescue party was then sent out and the wounded were brought to safety and rendered medical aid. The gallantry in action and devotion to duty displayed by Private McCary reflect credit upon himself and upon the Armed Forces of the United States.