The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Infantry) John Edward Gray (ASN: 0-58411), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company M, 3d Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Gray distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of the Changjin (Chosin) Reservoir in North Korea, on 1 December 1950. Lieutenant Gray had been wounded in the hand and both legs on 29 November 1950, while directing the fire of his mortar platoon in defense of a sector of the battalion command post perimeter against repeated attacks by a numerically superior hostile force. The battalion was complete surrounded and only limited aerial evacuation of the wounded could be effected. He elected to remain with his organization, and on 1 December, when orders were given to attempt a break-out of the encirclement, he was ordered to ride on a convoy of vehicles with other wounded. After proceeding about four miles, the battalion was halted by a murderous fire from a road block and well-entrenched positions on both flanks. Though hardly able to walk and suffering greatly from his wounds, he left his transportation to rally and reorganize a group of soldiers and fearless led them up high ground against the enemy emplacements. After capturing a sector of the enemy’s perimeter and realizing he had insufficient troop strength to maintain the position, he again moved through the barrage of fire and returned to the bottom of the hill where he organized another group of men and again charged the enemy, routing them from their strong-points and enabled the convoy to resume its advance. Lieutenant Gray’s superb leadership, gallant and aggressive actions, and sustained devotion to duty reflect utmost credit on himself and the honored traditions of the military service.