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The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander John Ellis Edwards (NSN: 0-63360), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. BRUSH (DD-745), during our carrier-borne strikes against the enemy Japanese-held areas of Luzon in the Philippine Islands, Formosa, French Indo-China and the China Coast during December 1944 and January 1945. Exercising sound judgment and superb professional ability throughout this period of intensive action against the Japanese, Commander Edwards skillfully maneuvered his ship through dangerous enemy waters to carry out previously untried tactics of operating as an advanced strike picket in defense of our Task Force, accurately identifying and homing returning planes, providing timely warnings of enemy aircraft, vectoring Combat Air Patrols on successful interceptions and rescuing personnel from downed planes. By his brilliant and forceful leadership, dauntless courage and unwavering devotion to duty while operating with limited destroyer facilities and under extremely hazardous conditions, Commander Edwards contributed materially to the success of our sustained drive against the enemy in the Pacific Theater of War.

Awards Received

  • Bronze Star Medal

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Captain [then Commander]

    Division:

    U.S.S. Brush (DD-745)

    Action Date:

    March 18 & 19, 1945
    Commander 1st Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0308

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Captain [then Commander] John Ellis Edwards (NSN: 0-63360), United States Navy, for meritorious achievement as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. BRUSH (DD-745), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific War Area, on 18 and 19 March 1945. With his ship under repeated enemy aerial attacks while on advanced picket duty, Captain Edwards skillfully maneuvered and fought his vessel to shoot down two hostile planes intent on attacking our surface forces. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (Captain Edwards is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)

  • Bronze Star Medal

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Captain [then Commander]

    Division:

    U.S.S. Brush (DD-745)

    Action Date:

    February 16, 1945
    Commander 1st Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0220 (March 20, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Captain [then Commander] John Ellis Edwards (NSN: 0-63360), United States Navy, for heroic achievement as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. BRUSH (DD-745), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Japanese Homeland on 16 February 1945. With his ship in an exposed position as advanced picket in enemy waters, Captain Edwards skillfully directed his vessel in taking under fire four hostile planes on separate occasions to shoot down one of them and successfully avoiding the attacks of two others, thereby contributing to the successful defense of the Task Force. His courageous leadership and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (Captain Edwards is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander

    Division:

    United States Destroyer

    Action Date:

    May 1943
    Commander Northern Pacific Forces: Serial 0783 (September 5, 1943)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander John Ellis Edwards (NSN: 0-63360), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Commanding Officer of a United States Destroyer during the seizure and occupation of enemy-held Attu Island, in May 1943. In addition to commanding fire-support operations for the landing phase of the Attu assault, Lieutenant Commander Edwards was in charge of the control vessel in one area, guiding landing craft through dense fog and hazardous waters to the beaches. Later, during the same operation, his vessel provided effective close-range bombardment in support of our ground troops advancing against Japanese opposition. On one occasion, when his ship and another vessel in the vicinity were fighting off a torpedo attack by approximately sixteen Mitsubishi land bombers, the combined accurate anti-aircraft fire of the two vessels shot down one enemy plane and probably destroyed others. Lieutenant Commander Edwards’ skillful leadership and the superb efficiency of the men in his command enabled our forces to escape undamaged and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.