The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Alfred A. Prusick (MCSN: 0-16245), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as platoon leader attached to an assault demolitions team of Company L, Third Battalion, Twenty-fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll on 1 and 2 February 1944. Participating aggressively in a relentless assault on the strongly entrenched enemy, First Lieutenant Prusick aided in maintaining our offensive holding tenaciously to a precarious position on a vital flank despite the determined effort of the enemy to infiltrate and counter attack. When the mortar forward observer was attacked and slashed with a sword by a Japanese officer during this fierce dead lock he fearlessly engaged the officer in a perilous hand to hand struggle and refraining from firing in order to protect other Marines in the vicinity, killed the Japanese with a bayonet. By his cool courage, gallant spirit of self-sacrifice and unwavering devotion to duty, First Lieutenant Prusick contributed materially to the success of the engagement and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.