Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private First Class

Unit:

Company I, 3rd Battalion, 323th Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

May 24th, 1945

Citation:
"For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against an armed enemy near Nitteneau, Germany, on 24 April 1945. On 24 April 1945, Private First Class Shelton, Company I rifleman, voluntarily went forward of the company line as a member of a reconnaissance patrol to obtain information as to the enemy's strength and defense system. After infiltrating enemy lines, me and his comrades advanced across four miles of hostile territory to reach Nittoneau on the Rogen River. The patrol members dispersed for reconnaissance work and Private First Class Shelton succeeded in locating several woll-hidden machine gun emplacements near the bridges of the river. Assembling at a pro-arranged point, he and the other patrol members went through the town toward friendly territory. The reconnaissance group was detected by the enemy at the outskirts of town and engaged in a fierce fire fight in which the foe deployed tanks and used machine guns in an attempt to stop the patrol. Fighting off the enemy. Private First Class Shelton and his companions managed to make their escape without the loss of a single man and worked their way back to the company line, taking with them forty-two prisoners whom they had captured on the reconnaissance mission. His courage under fire, strong initiative and loyal devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Shelton and the armed forces of the United States."

APO 26, Headquarters 26th Infantry Division, 24 May 1945.