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 Thomas Calven Bledsoe (ASN: 13144414), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 27th Infantry Division at Saipan, Mariana Islands, on 27 June 1944. Private Bledsoe was attached to an infantry company as part of a demolition unit. When the unit to which he was attached was being pinned down by light machine gun and automatic fire, Private Bledsoe, on his own initiative and with utter disregard for his own safety, advanced upon the enemy position with a flame thrower. After expending the flame thrower fuel, he rushed the position with a rifle, killing the crew of a machine gun, thereby enabling his unit to move forward and succeed in its mission.