The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Robert E. Shell (ASN: 18192940), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 101st Airborne Division. On 17 September 1944 he landed by parachute in the vicinity of Kasteel, Holland, and set up an aid station near the town. When enemy forces attacked the area he was wounded, captured and sent to an enemy hospital in enemy occupied territory. While there he worked long hours day and night treating American and British wounded soldiers despite his own wound. Conceiving a bold plan of escape, he fled from the enemy hospital dressed as a civilian and concealed himself in the home of a member of the Dutch Underground for eleven days. He continued his journey back to friendly lines and wandered through enemy held towns for nearly a month, constantly in danger of capture or death as a spy. Though his wound became infected, he struggled forward observing enemy activities and dispositions and their methods of prosecuting the war. Through his tenacity of purpose and courage, Sergeant Shell returned to friendly lines and reported information which proved invaluable to both British and American forces. His actions were in accordance with the military traditions of the United States.