The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Eugene S. Grzeskowiak (MCSN: 519390), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a member of Company I, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, from 4 to 6 May 1945. Braving hostile machine-gun fire which was holding up the advance of his platoon, Private First Class Grzeskowiak crawled forward under the most hazardous conditions and destroyed the Japanese weapon and its five man crew. On another occasion, when his company was receiving deadly fire from an enemy machine gun, he led his fire team forward and, after other units had failed to eliminate the strong point, attacked the position and annihilate the defending riflemen. His courageous leadership and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.