The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Frank M. Wysaski (MCSN: 0-23660), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a platoon leader of Company B, First Battalion, Second Marines, SECOND Marine Division during action against enemy Japanese forces on Tarawa, Gilbert Islands on 21 November 1943. When the enemy launched a vicious counter attack against the east flank of his sector after his company had crossed the airport and had begun its advance along the south coast line against strongly build fortifications, Second Lieutenant Wysaski promptly organized the few men remaining from his own platoon and various other units and led them in a brilliantly executed attack to drive the enemy from his position. With his platoon suffering heavy casualties and his ammunition virtually exhausted, he tenaciously held fast until reinforcements arrived then, again charging forward in a two hundred yard drive against heavily defended Japanese pill boxes and dugouts, succeeded in capturing his assigned objective. Wounded in a subsequent engagement while directing anti-tank grenade fire against the remaining Japanese strong point, Second Lieutenant Wysaski, by his forceful and determined leadership, daring initiative and steadfast devotion to the completion of each perilous assignment, had contributed materially to the success of our forces in capturing this strategic island and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.