The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class James R. Rudd (ASN: 6990785), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 27th Infantry Division at Saipan, Mariana Islands, on 21 June 1944. When the first gunner of the light machine gun on which Private First Class Rudd was a crew member was mortally wounded during a furious attack by the enemy, he exposed himself without hesitation to intensive enemy machine gun fire and removed the wounded man to a position of safety. He then took the operation of the gun, and although he was almost immediately wounded in his right arm by an enemy heavy machine gun fifty yards to his front, he continued to fire until he was forced out of action by two more bullet wounds in his upper right arm and shoulder. Private First Class Rudd’s personal courage and devotion to duty was instrumental in turning back a heavy assault by the enemy.