John L. Morrow

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to John L. Morrow (33598352), Corporal [then Private First Class], U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. On 18 March 1945, when hostile soldiers approached his company’s position in the Siegfried Line, near Zweibrucken, Germany, Corporal Morrow moved toward them, despite the fire of four machine guns. After crawling 70 yards down a connecting trench, as bullets barely missed him, he heard enemy voices. Cautiously rounding a corner, he surprised the Germans, killing two of them with one burst from his “Tommy gun.” As he attempted to return to his comrades, machine gun fire wounded him in the head, necessitating his immediate evacuation.