The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant [then Private] Mario A. Jurisprudencia (ASN: 66249), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters, 71st Field Artillery Regiment, 71st Division, Philippine Scouts, in action on 21 January 1942, at Bataan, Philippine Islands. During a critical period of operations, the enemy made a deep penetration of the front of the 71st Division, cutting lines of communications. Sergeant Jurisprudencia, a telephone operator, volunteered to take a vitally important message from the Division Artillery Commander to a regimental commander, although the mission necessitated his crossing hostile lines. He skillfully completed his dangerous task despite the graves danger. By his unfaltering devotion to duty, Sergeant Jurisprudencia contributed in noteworthy degree to the courageous tradition of the defenders of Bataan.