The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Frank William Budke, Jr. (NSN: 0-130757), United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the LCI(R) 1068, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Okinawa Shima, 21 May 1945. When a report was received that an Army observation plane had crashed behind the Japanese lines, Lieutenant Budke took his ship into the reef-filled harbor in an effort to rescue two aviators believed to be hiding in a wrecked hull close by the hostile shore line. Despite considerable shrapnel damage and a direct hit by a large caliber shell which ripped a three by three foot hole in the forward fuze magazine of his ship, necessitating a withdrawal for temporary repairs, Lieutenant Budke returned and continued to search the wreckage until convinced no living persons were aboard. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.