John J. Kemp

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to John J. Kemp (0-454328), First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Battery C, 882d Field Artillery Battalion, 70th Infantry Division, on 16 and 17 March 1945, near Saarbrucken, Germany. While enemy artillery and machine guns were firing on his front line observation post, Lieutenant Kemp observed and directed artillery fire in support of an infantry-tank attack. When three tanks were threatened by enemy fire, he concealed their position by calling for and adjusting protective smoke upon the hostile anti-tank battery. The next day, when hostile machine guns inflicted several casualties among the troops, he voluntarily returned to his observation post and directed artillery fire on the enemy guns. In this action, Lieutenant Kemp was killed. His gallant sacrifice on behalf of fellow soldiers exemplifies the finest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.