The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant (Armor) Gino Ganio (ASN: 0-1012268), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 27th Infantry Division at Saipan, Mariana Islands, on 7 July 1944. During the Japanese counterattack at Tanapag Harbor, the tank battalion of which he was a member was requested to send all available tanks to stem the Japanese attack. Although every tank fit for combat was already committed, Lieutenant Ganio volunteered to go forward with three partially crippled tanks, to an infantry battalion completely cut off by the Japanese. Although in the midst of the Japanese forces and under enemy fire, Lieutenant Ganio halted repeatedly to give morphine and water to the wounded encountered en route. He persisted in going forward until severely wounded by a grenade thrust under the hatch of his tank, which would not completely close, having been damaged in the previous day’s fighting.