The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Orin L. Shirley (ASN: 39093882), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the *** Tank Destroyer Battalion, 90th Infantry Division, in France, on 16 August 1944. Corporal Shirley was a gunner in a tank destroyer section supporting an attack on ****, France. When a strong counterattack by the enemy drove our forces from the town, he maintained his gun position enabling the retiring troops to form and rally around his position. Although enemy tanks were delivering a heavy volume of fire on his position and other members of his crew had sought safety in fox holes, Corporal Shirley and one other companion kept up fire from the gun knocking out an enemy tank. His example of devotion to duty stopped the advance of the enemy and permitted our troops to form for counterattack.