The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Technical Sergeant [then Staff Sergeant] Richard S. Furukawa (ASN: 30104230), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, 92d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 6 April 1945, in Italy. Technical Sergeant Furukawa was platoon guide of an assault platoon which had seized half of a knoll in an attack on Mount Cerreta. He deployed his squad in position to support an attack on known hostile machine gun positions on the other half of the knoll. He then voluntarily went forward with four other men to locate enemy strongpoints. Halting his team after they had gone 25 yards, he then proceeded 20 yards farther, alone, to investigate a dugout. With a burst from his submachine gun, he captured four enemy soldiers from this dugout whom he handed over to his men. Then, still alone, he went 10 yards farther, disappeared between some rocks, and returned 10 minutes later with two enemy machine gunners whom he had surprised as they manned their weapon. Technical Sergeant Furukawa’s bold courage exemplifies the heroic traditions of the American Soldier.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Sergeant Richard S. Furukawa (ASN: 30104230), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, in action against the enemy in the vicinity of La Houssiere, France on 7 November 1944. When a heavily mined area enclosed within a barbed-wire entanglement held up his company’s advance, Sergeant Furukawa and a comrade crawled forward and cut a path through the obstacle. Approaching within 15 yards of the enemy’s positions, they fearlessly exposed themselves to open fire on the enemy, killing three and forcing the remainder of the defenders to flee. This courageous action enabled the company to move forward and occupy the hostile position that had held them back for four days. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.