The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Field Artillery) Charles W. West (ASN: 0-1177235), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of the *** Field Artillery Battalion, XII Corps, in action against an armed enemy on 27 September 1944, in France. In the vicinity of St. Genevieve, France, Captain West was acting as Forward Observer on an observation post that was undergoing enemy shelling. A round landed within twenty yards of his post and Captain West, utterly disregarding his own personal safety, crawled out to the crater and completed a shell report. Although several more shells landed in the vicinity, he remained in his exposed position until he had completed the report. His daring and courage in the face of enemy fire enabled him to telephone a complete shell report to Fire Direction Center before the last of an estimated twenty rounds had fallen. 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 and the United States Army.