Headquarters, 45th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 163 (July 11, 1944)
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 C. Dempsey, Jr. (ASN: 35732534), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 1 June 1944, near Campoleone, Italy. When his company was subjected to grazing machine gun fire along the banks of a ravine, Private Dempsey crawled into the open, located the enemy position, made his way across seventy-five yards of open terrain and with grenades silenced the machine gun and captured two German prisoners. His action enabled Company K to continue its advance. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Private Dempsey, 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.