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 First Class Mitchell R. Helton (ASN: 20721720), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in action on Hill Number 122 in the vicinity of **** Normandy, France, on 15 July 1944. When two of his comrades were wounded by enemy machine gun fire and were lying exposed to further fire, Private Helton, together with his squad leader, crawled to the wounded soldiers, threw smoke grenades into the enemy machine gun position, blinding the enemy and causing a cessation of enemy fire until the wounded men were removed to a position of safety. The gallantry in action, courage, and unselfish loyalty to his comrades displayed by Private Helton, acting with disregard for his own safety, resulted in saving the lives of the wounded soldiers, reflects credit upon Private Helton and is in accord with the highest traditions of the military service.