Melvin T. Tsuda

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Melvin T. Tsuda (20010136), Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Headquarters Company, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate), attached to the 34th Infantry Division, on ** November 1943, in the vicinity of the ***** River in Italy. After his Battalion had successfully crossed the **** River, Staff Sergeant Tsuda, as Battalion Wire Chief, led his wire crew under heavy enemy artillery fire and through a heavily-mined area to establish wire communication with the forward elements. When about 300 yards from the river, Staff Sergeant Tsuda and his crew were attacked by two enemy machine-guns. Although three of his crew were fatally wounded, Sergeant Tsuda’s cool leadership succeeded in getting the remainder of his depleted crew through to establish the vitally-needed wire communication. The energetic leadership and courage displayed by Staff Sergeant Tsuda in the face of grave danger was exemplary and a credit to the Armed Forces of the United States.