The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Shirley M. Utgaard (ASN: 37548198), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Battery C, 696th Field Artillery Battalion, III Corps, in action in the vicinity of *****, France, on 1 October 1944. While his battery was being heavily shelled, Corporal Utgaard, with utter disregard for personal safety, voluntarily entered the shelled area to assist his battery executive officer in securing data for a shelling report so that prompt counter-battery fire might be brought against the enemy. Despite intermittent enemy artillery fire, he courageously continued examining shell fragments, measuring craters, and obtaining other vital information necessary for the report until he was wounded. Corporal Utgaard’s gallantry and loyal devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and uphold the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.