The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Richard F. Bilodeau, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 106th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy at Saipan, Mariana Islands, on 27 June 1944. When both friendly and enemy fire were falling in an area occupied by his battalion’s Command Post, Private First Class Bilodeau left the safety of his foxhole, when a pyrotechnic he had fired failed to clear trees, crawled into an open area through extremely heavy fire of both friendly and enemy forces, and again fired so that the signal might be seen. His actions stopped the friendly fire and resulted in the enemy fire being directed in a different direction, thereby preventing heavy casualties to his own unit. Private First Class Bilodeau died of wounds received in action on a later date. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Private First Class Bilodeau, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.