The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) [then Staff Sergeant] Shelby Speights (ASN: 0-2006899), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 14 November 1944 in France. When an enemy patrol attacked elements of the 3d Platoon, Sergeant Speights, a squad leader, immediately went forward to take command of the situation. As he approached the battle area, he was suddenly attacked by the enemy patrol leader. Although unarmed he wrestled the rifle from his assistant and, using the rifle as a club, killed him. The loss of their leader disorganized the hostile soldiers, and Sergeant Speights swiftly rallied his men to repel the attack. As a result of his aggressive leadership, six of the enemy were killed, several others were wounded and the remainder were forced to withdraw. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Shelby Speights (ASN: 0-2006899), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 26 November 1944 in France. The 3d Platoon of Company C, supported by two tanks, was advancing along a street towards its objective when, upon rounding a curve which obstructed the view of the route of advance, it was subjected to direct fire from two enemy tanks. The heavy tank fire delayed the platoon’s advance and forced the friendly troops to take cover. Instantly cognizant of serious threat to the safety of his comrades, Sergeant Speights seized a roll of communication wire and a telephone and moved straight through the hostile fire to the other side of the street, laying a wire line as he advanced. Swiftly establishing communications, he directed effective fire on the enemy, scoring a direct hit on the lead tank and forcing the crew members of the second tank to abandon their vehicles and flee. He then directed the friendly tanks, which were supporting his platoon to a position from which they could deliver effective fire on the hostile soldiers still resisting the unit’s advance. The accurate tank fire swiftly neutralized all opposition. As a result of Sergeant Speights’ quick-thinking and daring aggressiveness, his platoon was able to continue its advance and capture its objective with a minimum of casualties. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) [then Staff Sergeant] Shelby Speights (ASN: 0-2006899), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 9 January 1945 in France. When enemy troops threatened to overrun Company B’s defenses, Sergeant Speights, a Platoon Leader in Company C, advanced with his men down a mined road under heavy enemy artillery fire to help drive back the attackers. Approaching a hostile observation post through a wooded sector, he braved heavy automatic weapons fire to direct elements of the platoon into more advantageous firing positions. After killing or wounding all members of the observation post group, the platoon advanced to attack the well-camouflaged positions occupied by the main body of the enemy. Exposing himself to machine gun and automatic weapons fire, Sergeant Speights moved to the front of his men and directed them in firing against the hostile force. Spotting five enemy soldiers feigning death, he immediately opened fire and frustrated their attempt to ambush the platoon. Largely as a result of his skillful and aggressive leadership, 37 of the enemy were killed and 30 were captured without a single casualty to the platoon. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Shelby Speights (ASN: 0-2006899), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 14 December 1944 in France. The 3d Platoon of Company C was assigned the mission of clearing enemy-held houses and of rescuing a Company B outpost, which had been surrounded by hostile troops. Sergeant Speights, a squad leader in the 3d Platoon, led his men from house to house, driving a stubbornly resisting enemy from each building until he contacted the outpost. Almost immediately, the platoon was subjected to direct, rapid bursts of machine gun fire from the crest of a nearby railroad embankment. Sergeant Speights swiftly moved into the house occupied by the Company C outpost and, fearlessly exposing himself to hostile fire, located the gun position. Taking careful aim, he fired a rifle grenade into the midst of the enemy emplacement, destroying the weapon, wounding several of the crewmembers and forcing the remainder to withdraw. As a result of his courage and resourcefulness, the platoon was able to occupy the high ground of the railroad embankment and observe all enemy activity to the front. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.