The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Armor) John A. Kearns (ASN: 0-1031183), United States Army, for gallantry in action as Commanding Officer, 24th Reconnaissance Company, 24th Infantry Division, in action near Pungong-ni, Korea, on 6 August 1950. During an attack his company was assigned the mission of supporting an infantry unit with small arms, mortar and tank fire. Soon after deploying his company in the village of Pungong-ni, the only available positions of relative safety and concealment, heavy enemy artillery fire shattered the buildings and set them on fire. Ordering his company to withdraw from the then untenable positions, he led it through the smoke and flames to an alternate position from where they could continue their mission of support. Realizing that one of his men had been left in the village during the hasty withdrawal, Captain Kearns left his position of relative safety, returned to the burning village and in spite of the intense artillery barrage still falling, sought out and carried his wounded sergeant to the relative protection of the company’s new position. Although the enemy artillery by this time had located the company area, he remained in a dangerously exposed position so that he might gain the maximum observation and by radio contact directed the fire of his tanks. Through the accuracy and volume of his directed fire the infantry attack continued under the support of his company’s weapons. His courage, unhesitant devotion to duty and superior leadership reflect the greatest credit upon himself and the United States Army.