The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant John Jurinsky (ASN: RA-11351857), United States Army, for gallantry in action. Staff Sergeant Jurinsky distinguished himself on 2 October 1967 while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam while serving with Company A, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Sergeant Jurinsky’s platoon was given the mission of assaulting a North Vietnamese Army defensive perimeter. The North Vietnamese Army force was in well camouflaged bunkered positions above Sergeant Jurinsky’s platoon. The platoon deployed on line with two squads and began to move forward. Sergeant Jurinsky was initially with the third squad and in a reserve rear security position when suddenly the left flank squad was taken under an intense volume of enemy automatic weapons fire and became pinned down. The right flank squad began to maneuver, but became heavily engaged with automatic weapons and grenades. Sergeant Jurinsky immediately deployed his squad, gathered grenades and ammunition and rushed forward through the vicious enemy automatic weapons fire. With complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Jurinsky rushed forward and threw three hand grenades into the enemy bunker at a range of about ten meters. As the burst from the exploding grenades went off, Sergeant Jurinsky personally assaulted the enemy bunker and successfully killed the North Vietnamese Army soldier inside. He was then taken under heavy enemy automatic weapons fire again and was hit by a Chi-Com grenade that failed to explode. Sergeant Jurinsky withdrew from his exposed position only after all the men had pulled back below the next terrace. Sergeant Jurinsky single-handedly broke a counter-attack by throwing grenades and firing his M-16. Sergeant Jurinsky’s outstanding display of gallantry in action and his devotion to duty are within the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.