The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Benjamin L. Fitzgerald (ASN: 0-445349), United States Army, for gallantry in action on or about 6 October 1943, at ****, Italy. Lieutenant Fitzgerald, Reconnaissance Officer, Battery B, 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, with a group of soldiers acting as forward observers in ****, was forced by concentrated artillery and rifle fire to evacuate the post. He covered the departure of his group through sniper fire directed against the only door of the house they occupied. Throughout their movement from ****, Lieutenant Fitzgerald kept his men ahead of him and served as a rear-guard against snipers. When they reached their rendezvous, Lieutenant Fitzgerald was missing and later found dead. With coolness, courage and unswerving devotion to duty, he had set the safety of his men above his own in a manner after the highest traditions of the Army.