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 (Medical Administrative Corps), [then Technician Third Grade] James C. Keener (ASN: 0-887529), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action in the **** Sector, Normandy, France, 15 July 1944. In the operation against ****, Lieutenant Keener was a member of a litter squad which voluntarily went into enemy territory, unaware of its being in enemy hands, in order to evacuate the wounded of an attached unit. Before entering the area for the second time, to evacuate the remaining wounded men, he was informed that the area was enemy territory. Despite this fact, and despite the hazard of crossing terrain subjected to heavy fire, he again entered the enemy territory with his squad and succeeded in evacuating the remaining wounded soldiers. Lieutenant Keener’s gallant actions, his devotion to duty and disregard for personal safety, are in accord with the highest traditions of the Army.