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 William M. Colby (ASN: 35632877), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Battery, 158th Field Artillery Battalion, 45th Infantry Division, in action on the night of 21 – 22 February 1944, near Carroceto, Italy. During the defense of a sector on the Anzio Beachhead by an infantry battalion, the command post located in a cavern was threatened by assaulting hostile forces which had broken through the outer defenses and were attacking the entrance of the cave from two directions. Throughout the encounter, Private Colby, serving with an artillery liaison party, remained at his radio ten feet from the mouth of the cave receiving and transmitting conduct of fire messages calmly and efficiently, although his life was endangered by grenades and small arms fire. As a last resort in warding off the German troops, he directed artillery fire to the very entrance of the cave. Private Colby’s efforts contributed to the frustration of the attack, inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy, and typify the high ideals of the Armed Forces.