The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Francis S. Kukulski (MCSN: 407017), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Squad Leader of an Engineer Assault Squad of Company A, First Battalion, Twentieth Marines (Engineer), FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan from 15 June to 10 July 1944 and on Tinian, Mariana Islands, from 24 July to 1 August 1944. Faced with intense enemy fire upon landing on Saipan, Sergeant Kukulski immediately reorganized his detachment of assault engineers and proceeded to a prearranged position with an assault company. After enemy troops had reoccupied a building only twenty-five yards from our front lines and were effectively firing on our troops and all other means to evict them had failed, he assisted in placing demolition charges in the building, thereby destroying the structure and neutralizing the position. As squad leader of an engineering assault squad, he personally led his men in numerous assaults on enemy-held pillboxes, caves and dugouts and his leadership and gallant devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Sergeant Kukulski and the United States Naval Service.