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 Masaki Fujikawa (ASN: 30104553), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 34th Infantry Division, on 4 July 1944, in Italy. When their attack was met with extremely heavy enemy fire of all types, the company was forced to with draw. Private First Class Fujikawa’s squad lost contact with the remainder of the company and were forced to spend the night in enemy territory. Upon reconnoitering the next morning to discover a means of escape, Private First Class Fujikawa observed several of the enemy digging in on the reverse slope of the hill. Private First Class Fujikawa notified the platoon leader and then took up a position from which he fired upon and killed one man to their rear. When the platoon leader was pinned down by two enemy machine guns, Private First Class Fujikawa located their position and silenced both machine guns with accurate rifle fire. The main body of the enemy troops, sensing an attack, attempted to withdraw to a wooded area to the rear. Private First Class Fujikawa and two comrades, however, laid such heavy and accurate fire upon the enemy that only four of them escaped. The courage and aggressiveness displayed by Private First Class Fujikawa was instrumental in killing and wounding 60 of the enemy and his actions reflect highly upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.