COLONEL WILLIAM J. BOYLE (then Lieutenant Colonel), Infantry, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action as Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 517th Parachute Infantry, on 25 December 1944, in Belgium. When, through error brought about by confusion in the situation, troops of a friendly battalion began firing upon men under his command, Lieutenant Colonel Boyle walked boldly in the direction of the intense fire to correct the error. Al;though fired upon by successive groups as he approached, and unable to protect himself, he continued on his self-assigned task until the entire friendly battalion was cognizant of the location of his troops. Lieutenant Colonel Boyle’s magnificent act of courage undoubtedly saved the lives of many soldiers and is worthy of the most illustrious traditions of the United States Army.

Col. Boyle resided in New York.