RUSSELL McKELVEY, on 17 September 1944, near Scarperia, Italy led a platoon up a ridge heavily fortified by five enemy pillboxes dug in behind barbed wire and mines. He continually exposed himself to murderous machine gun and sniper fire to keep his men moving. He then secured several “Molotov Cocktails” and proceeded alone through a hail of enemy fire to within ten yards of his objective. During this advance, a sniper’s bullet pierced his helmet while he was disarming a German mine. Unperturbed, he threw the “Cocktails” into the pillbox and captured the five German soldiers, then, led his platoon in knocking out the remaining enemy strongpoints.

Mr. Mckelvey resided in Oregon.