The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Joseph H. Boone (ASN: 38229591), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 25 December 1944, near ****, Belgium. Sergeant Boone, a squad leader in Company A, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, remained with his squad as a rear guard for the withdrawal of his platoon which had been left as a covering force. The enemy main effort came through Sergeant Boone’s positions. For an hour, he and his squad resisted the advance of the enemy, placing a heavy volume of fire upon the advancing foe, hampering their advance and pinning them down. During the course of this fire fight, Sergeant Boone scaled a small cliff overlooking a road on which the enemy was advancing and tossed grenades between their ranks as they passed. This caused heavy casualties and temporarily halted their forward movement. When Sergeant Boone withdrew his squad he was the last man to leave. He safely led them through heavy artillery and small arms fire to the assembly point. His determined resistance prevented enemy interference with the withdrawal of his platoon. His actions reflect great credit upon himself and upon the Airborne Forces of the United States Army.