The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technician Fifth Grade Michael Pugachow (ASN: 33699270), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company A, 142d Engineer Combat Battalion, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 3 April 1945 at Wurzburg, Germany. As a member of an assault boat crew, Corporal Pugachow participated in numerous crossings of the Main River, carrying infantrymen and supplies across to the bridgehead at Wurzburg, Germany, and returning with prisoners and wounded. On his fourth crossing he was seriously wounded by the intense machine gun fire directed at his boat. Despite his injury and the continuously increasing fire, he continued to control the boat and assisted in paddling in order to speed the boat across the river. Corporal Pugachow’s indomitable courage and gallantry in disregarding his personal safety after being wounded enabled the remainder of the crew to continue and transport the critically needed reinforcements to the growing bridgehead.