The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Steve M. Kozuch (ASN: 20310855), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 15 June 1944, near ****, France. After all attempts by his battalion to make contact with the Reserve Battalion of the 60th Infantry had failed, a volunteer patrol, of which Private First Class Kozuch was a member, started out to locate that unit. In order to get to the area in which they were thought to be located, it was necessary to pass through a small village containing several enemy snipers armed with machine guns. Private First Class Kozuch, guarding the right flank to warn the patrol in case the enemy started closing in, sighted several enemy machine gunners coming up to bring fire upon the patrol. He immediately moved forward against three machine guns and held them in check for twenty minutes, in which time the patrol made contact with the Reserve Battalion. In so doing, he killed three enemy snipers who were directing mortar fire on the patrol. Private First Class Kozuch proved himself a soldier of utmost bravery and determination. He won the respect and admiration of the entire platoon. Private First Class Kozuch’s actions reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.