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 Paul E. Rucci (ASN: 20129574), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 27th Infantry Division at Saipan, Mariana Islands, on 7 July 1944. Private First Class Rucci crawled through connecting trenches in which he knew there were enemy soldiers. He killed two enemy riflemen and then threw a grenade into a hostile machine gun position, advanced into the position and killed the two remaining Japanese soldiers. He then held this position until our own lines advanced.