The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal John B. Pudas (MCSN: 309838), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as an assault squad leader of Company B, First Battalion, Eighth Marines, SECOND Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands on 23 June 1944. Immediately placing his squad in a covered position after its advance was halted by intense hostile machine gun fire, Corporal Pudas bravely worked his way through heavy fire to reach the enemy gun position and destroying it with hand grenades, contributed materially to the advance of our units. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.