The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Ira W. Austin (ASN: 0-887604), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action near ****, France, on 6 November 1944. Lieutenant Austin led a ten-man patrol with the assignment of infiltrating enemy territory and capturing some of the enemy for questioning for intelligence purposes. Leading his lightly-clothed and armed patrol in the darkness and rain, Lieutenant Austin crossed a field which later yielded more than four hundred anti-personnel mines to an engineer unit. Cautiously crossing other terrain netted with trip-wired booby-traps, covered with masses of barbed wire, aggravated by unusual muddiness, he pressed forward, reaching his objective, a roadway over three thousand yards from his starting point. After waiting thirty minutes, he observed and, aided by his men, stealthily captured two enemy soldiers. Shortly after, in endeavoring to capture the driver and guard of an enemy horse-drawn vehicle, an alarm was sounded, the horses bolted and it became necessary to shoot two of the enemy soldiers encountered during the mission. In response to the alarm, Lieutenant Austin and his men were trapped in the crossfire of six enemy machine guns, mortar fire was directed at them, and machine pistols attempted to check the patrol’s withdrawal. However, by the exercise of outstanding leadership, by remaining calm and in full control of his men, Lieutenant Austin led his patrol, together with one of the prisoners, back to the safety of his lines, although this again necessitated crossing extremely dangerous terrain. Lieutenant Austin’s personal bravery, dynamic leadership, calmness under fire and disregard for personal safety, enabled him to complete his mission without casualties in his patrol, and reflect credit upon his character as an officer and leader of men.