Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

Company K, 321st Infantry Regiment, 81st Infantry Division "Wildcat", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

March 6th, 1945

By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved 9 July 1918 (Bulletin No. 43, WD, 1918) and pursuant to authorithy contained in AR 600-45 (Decorations), 22 September 1943, and authority delegated in Section II, paragragh 1 b, Circular No. 6, Hq Tenth Army, APO 357, 17 January 1945, a Silver Star is awarded by the Commanding General, 81st Infantry Division, tot he following named enlisted man:
Staff Sergeant (then Sergeant) Chester W. Shipley (Army serial No. 37187528), Company K. 321st Infantry, United States Army. For Gallantry in action on Peleliu Island, Palau Group, 27 September 1944. During the progress of an attack, Sergeant Shipley, an acting squad leader, volunteered to join his company commander and one other man on an extemely dangerous reconnaissance mission which had as its purpose the establishment of contact with an adjacent company. It was necessary fort he patrol to move over terrain known tob e under enemy observation in order to accomplish its objective. Despite all precautions to proceed without being detected, the patrol was observed by the enemy and two of its members were killed. Sergeant Shipley returned tot he company with the valuable information the patrol had obtained. Sergeant Shipley’s courageous actions on this occasion exemplified to his company the highest standards of devotion to duty and inspired all to greater afforts.


Headquarters 81st Infantry Division, General Orders No. 31 (1945).