The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Melvin J. Pacult (MCSN: 421509), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a group leader of a rifle squad of Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-first Marines, THIRD Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Asan-Adelup Beachhead, Guam, Mariana Islands on the night of 25 – 26 July 1944. Although isolated with only three other men when a coordinated enemy counter attack penetrated several positions in the company lines and silenced a machine gun on his left, Corporal Pacult refused to withdraw and continued to direct the fire of his group until he had eliminated at least twenty of the enemy. By his skilled leadership and courage under fire, Corporal Pacult aided immeasurably in halting a fierce Japanese counter attack. His devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.