The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant William T. Blair (ASN: 14041761), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 10 July 1943, near ****, Sicily. Staff Sergeant Blair, a member of Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, was one of a small group of men who attacked a pill box heavily-fortified with barbed wire and concrete and containing four machine guns. Without regard for his personal safety, Staff Sergeant Blair advanced under intense machine gun fire, across open terrain, to a position from which he could effectively bring small arms fire to bear on the emplacements, allowing the remainder of the group to advance and blasted the enemy from their positions with hand grenades and small arms fire, killing eleven of the enemy and capturing twenty-nine men and two officers. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.