John LAWRENCE Babbick

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to John Lawrence Babbick (7988026), Hospitalman Third Class, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Corpsman (Attached), Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy forces at Taebong-ni, Korea, on 17 August 1950. While his company was attacking a heavily fortified enemy position, Hospitalman Babbick heard frantic cries for a corpsman from a wounded marine lying in an open area of a rice field, which was under concentrated enemy machine-gun and sniper fire. Although warned not to expose himself, Hospitalman Babbick, remarking that the man’s condition could not wait, unhesitatingly and courageously made his way to him through withering fire and proceeded to administer first aid. After easing the wounded marine’s pain, Hospitalman Babbick was mortally wounded by a sniper’s bullet as he attempted to return to cover.
General Headquarters Far East Command: General Orders No. 86 (December 19, 1950)