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 Technical Sergeant Atsushi Sakamoto (ASN: 39020224), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 34th Infantry Division, on 6 and 17 July 1944, in the vicinities of Molino A Ventoabbto and Luciano, Italy. As two platoons of an assault company fought their way up Hill 140, they were subjected to a concentrated mortar barrage which killed one man and wounded several. Although the platoons were seriously disorganized, Sergeant Sakamoto gained control and successfully led his men through a deadly counter-attack by a superior enemy force, enabling the company to hold the hill until they were relieved by another company in the morning. On another occasion Sergeant Sakamoto led his platoon in an attack on the village of Luciano although aware of the fact that the enemy, consisting of approximately 30 men, were heavily armed with machine guns, machine pistols, rifles and a tank. Approaching a bend in the road leading into the village, Sergeant Sakamoto moved forward alone, attempting to draw enemy fire. Sighting a machine gun nest he crept forward to fire his sub-machine gun when he was shot and instantly killed by a machine-pistol sniper. The courageous leadership displayed by Sergeant Sakamoto is exemplary and a credit to the Armed Forces of the United States.