The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class George Kucik, Jr. (MCSN: 850590), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company I, Third Battalion, Twenty-first Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 24 February 1945. Dispatched by his Platoon Leader with an oral message of greatest urgency, Private First Class Kucik crossed two hundred yards of open terrain in the face of intense hostile artillery, mortar and small-arms fire and, while passing through this area, was blinded by an enemy grenade. Continuing toward his objective, he asked to be led to the Company Command Post and, despite his injuries, repeated his message three times and also gave the location of a fallen Marine whom he had seen prior to being blinded. His perseverance, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.