Place and date: Near Mount Damiano, Italy, 12 May 1944. Entered service at: New York, New York. .Birth: New York, New York. G.O. No.: 4, 12 January 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, on 12 May 1944, near Mount Damiano, Italy. As Lieutenant (then Staff Sergeant) Shea and his company were advancing toward a hill occupied by the enemy, three enemy machine guns suddenly opened fire, inflicting heavy casualties upon the company and halting its advance. Lieutenant.Shea immediately moved forward to eliminate these machine gun nests in order to enable his company to continue its attack. The deadly hail of machine gun fire at first pinned him down, but, boldly continuing his advance, Lieutenant Shea crept up to the first nest. Throwing several hand grenades, he forced the four enemy soldiers manning this position to surrender, and disarming them, he sent them to the rear. He then crawled to the second machine gun position, and after a short fire fight forced two more German soldiers to surrender. At this time, the third machine gun fired at him, and while deadly small arms fire pitted the earth around him, Lieutenant Shea crawled toward the nest. Suddenly he stood up and rushed the emplacement and with well-directed fire from his rifle, hekilled all three of the enemy machine gunners. Lieutenant Shea's display of personal valor was an inspiration to the officers and men of his company.