The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Cyril F. Ronkowski (MCSN: 397592), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as an Acting Squad Leader of a Rifle Squad of Company K, Third Battalion, Sixth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, 3 July 1944. When his company was pinned down by enemy troops entrenched in a well-organized series of caves. Private First Class Ronkowski led a group of previously untried replacements and exposing himself to extremely heavy rifle and machine-gun fire at close range in order to find cover and determine fields of fire, deployed his men and enabled a demolition team to blow up caves inaccessible to small-arms fire. Continuing the assaults against a seemingly endless number of caves for a period of five hours, he led his unit in outmaneuvering the enemy until wounded and evacuated from the area. His skill, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.