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 Wesley G. Snell (ASN: 20745568), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Battery C, 456th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 10 July 1943, five miles northeast of ****, Sicily. Corporal Snell, with the rest of his gun crew, moved to the forward slope of *** *** and while under heavy machine gun fire in plain view of the enemy used his gun in a superior manner by laying fire directly into the enemy positions. One **** tank was destroyed and another damaged by this fire. Several hits were scored on ****** gun positions and some machine gun nests were destroyed. The effective employment of this field piece at this time proved a decisive factor in stalling the enemy attack. In this gallant action Corporal Snell acquitted himself in a manner reflecting credit upon himself and his country.