The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal George Pappas (MCSN: 361759), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as assistant gunner of a self-propelled 75-mm. gun serving with the Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Cape Gloucester, New Britain during the late afternoon and night of 3 Ð 4 January 1944. While his gun was attempting to force a crossing over a river in the face of devastating attack by hostile machine guns, mortars and rifles from strongly fortified positions, Corporal Pappas skillfully directed the fire of a machine gun against Japanese snipers and concealed emplacements until the self-propelled weapon advanced to a position where it could fire point blank on the enemy who we holding up the advance of his battalion. Corporal Pappa’s extreme bravery and indomitable fighting spirit materially assisted his battalion in breaking through the hostile lines and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.