The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Eugene O. Kesinger (MCSN: 519592), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company C, First Battalion, Eighth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, 1 July 1944. When an adjacent rifle platoon was pinned down by enemy machine-gun fire coming from his platoon’s front, Private First Class Kesinger voluntarily crossed an open space swept by hostile fire to reach the adjacent platoon and determine the position of the enemy weapon holding up the advance and, although wounded while returning to his own platoon, contacted his platoon leader and gave him the desired information, thereby contributing directly to the destruction of the hostile gun. His courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Kesinger and the United States Naval Service.