The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Thomas W. Cottick (MCSN: 305769), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the Second Battalion, Twenty-fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll Marshall Islands on 1 February 1944. Volunteering to undertake an extremely hazardous mission in order to give vital information to scattered units concerning a continuation of the attack, Corporal Cottick fearlessly moved laterally across a front of two hundred fifty yards in the face of intense enemy rifle and machine gun fire, completing his assignment and contributing materially to the successful completion of the assault. Later accompanied by another Marine, he skillfully assaulted and destroyed with hand grenades a Japanese machine gun nest which had shortly before killed or wounded several of his comrades. His exceptional skill, keen initiative and heroic devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Corporal Cottick and the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Corporal Thomas W. Cottick (MCSN: 305769), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as an Acting Platoon Leader of Company F, Second Battalion, Twenty-fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 3 March 1945. When intense fire from a hostile pill box halted the advance of his company Sergeant Cottick courageously exposed himself to the rain of enemy fire to advance on the position and personally neutralized its fire with hand grenades thereby enabling a demolition team to completely destroy the enemy pill box. Under his able and intrepid leadership his company unhesitatingly advanced to other hostile emplacements and effectively destroyed all resistance. Throughout the day, Sergeant Cottick continued to conduct his men in effective assaults against fortified positions and rendered valuable service to his command until he was wounded by enemy mortar fire. His leadership, fortitude and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.