The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) [then Second Lieutenant] James Alfieri (ASN: 0-1297297), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, *** Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action in the vicinity of ****, Germany, on 15 December 1944. Lieutenant Alfieri, a mortar section leader, Company D, *** Infantry Regiment, established an observation post well forward of the front lines and, for a period of more than three hours, directed effective fire upon enemy positions near ****. As darkness set in, he started back to the last known position of the infantry units, discovered that they had moved, and went in search of them. He soon realized that he was in the midst of enemy outposts, who discovered his presence and opened fire with machine guns and small arms. Lieutenant Alfieri calmly connected a telephone to a wire that had been laid from the battalion command post to his observation post, and remained in position until he had determined and reported the position of enemy weapons in the vicinity. He then withdrew, organized small groups of friendly riflemen, who had lost contact with their units, into a fighting unit, then established communications with the commander of Company C, from whom he learned that Company A had infiltrated through enemy lines into **** and had requested a mortar observer. Again acting with utter disregard for personal safety, Lieutenant Alfieri crawled forward through intense enemy fire of all types, moving at times not more than five yards from enemy positions, and carrying wire in addition to his other equipment, until he established contact with Company A. By his intrepid action, he provided the battalion with communications essential to a coordinated attack, and insured the attacking rifle companies of accurate artillery and mortar support. Lieutenant Alfieri’s bravery, calmness, initiative, tactical knowledge, and resourcefulness under fire were an inspiration to all troops of the battalion.