The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) John W. McGrew (ASN: 0-1174376), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Battery C, 696th Field Artillery Battalion, III Corps, in action in the vicinity of *****, France, on 1 October 1944. When his battery was being heavily shelled, Lieutenant McGrew, with utter disregard for personal safety, voluntarily entered the shelled area to secure data for a shelling report so that prompt counter-battery fire might be brought against the enemy. Despite intermittent enemy artillery fire, he courageously continued examining shell fragments, measuring craters, and obtaining other vital information necessary for the report until he was mortally wounded. Lieutenant McGrew’s gallantry and supreme devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and uphold the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.