Delbert W. Harding

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Delbert W. Harding (31322084), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company D, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. On the evening of 14 April 1944, north of Carano, Italy, Private First Class Harding, and another soldier, mortar ammunition bearers, volunteered to lay a communication line to a mortar observation post. In a five-hour mission the two men laid 2900 yards of wire under intense enemy artillery and mortar fire which continually forced them to work from a prone position. During the subsequent 15 days, the two men maintained the line, repairing an average of 12 breaks each day under concentrated enemy artillery and mortar fire. During one counterattack, they accomplished 27 repair missions despite shells which frequently landed within ten to twenty yards of them.