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 Staff Sergeant Paul R. Didrick (ASN: 35166069), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 165th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, in action at Saipan, Mariana Islands, on 23 June 1944. When the advance of his unit had been held up for several days by enemy positions of unknown strength and locations, Staff Sergeant Didrick volunteered to reconnoiter the enemy installations. Going forward with a patrol, he was fired upon by Japanese, He returned the fire until he was killed. His action enabled our forces to locate the enemy, determine his strength and subsequently overrun his positions.