Foy H. Moody

By direction of the President, a Silver Star is awarded to Captain Foy H. Moody, 0511937, Medical Corps, *** Auxiliary Surgical Group, United States Army. For gallantry in action. On 24 December 1944, Captain Moody, General Surgeon, *** Auxiliary Surgical Group, volunteered as a member of a surgical group organized for the hazardous mission of parachuting into the enemy-surrounded city of Bastogne, Belgium to provide medical aid for a large number of seriously wounded men of the 101st Airborne Division defending the city. When conditions later determined that the group and necessary equipment would be flown in by glider, a landing under enemy artillery and small arms fire was accomplished on 26 December in a field near the city. Upon arriving at the makeshift hospital within the city the group immediately organized and began operating, working throughout the night, disregarding enemy bombing and artillery fire which on one occasion blew open the door of the operating room, forcing them to work by flashlight. After a few hours rest on the following day they continued operating, working through the night of 27 December and into the next day. By noon of 28 December, all patients had been evacuated to a field hospital which had been established in the city after armored forces advancing from the south had made contact with the defending forces. This gallant group saved many lives. The courage and heroic unselfish devotion to duty of each member exemplifies the highest traditions of the military service of the United States.