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 Joseph P. Duke (ASN: 33255807), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with the Medical Department, 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division, on 9 December 1944 in France. When the platoon to which Private Duke, Company Aidman, was attached had cleared a factory building, and was occupying it for reorganization, a cleverly camouflaged enemy self-propelled weapon opened fire, the initial round killing one man and wounding six others including Private Duke. Ignoring the painful injury to his shoulder, which made one arm virtually useless, he succeeded in dressing the wounds of the other men and dragging the wounded men to safety in spite of the continued fire from the enemy weapon. The courage and devotion to the welfare of his fellow soldiers displayed by Private Duke reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.