Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Technical Sergeant

    Regiment:

    145th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    37th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    February 11, 1945

    Headquarters, 37th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 137 (May 31, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technical Sergeant John V. Ragsdale (ASN: 39266501), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Cannon Company, 145th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy at Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 11 February 1945. Sergeant Ragsdale advanced under hostile fire to within 35 yards of enemy positions in order to remove trees which blocked his line of fire. Lying prone, while the enemy fired directly at him, he chopped down two trees and enabled his platoon’s two 155-mm. howitzers to fire with decisive effective against Japanese pillboxes. Later in the day Sergeant Ragsdale led a volunteer patrol across a river to cut down a thicket which was in the line of fire. Although intense hostile machine gun fire riddled his boat and seriously wounded one of the men, he cleared a fire lane which enabled his guns to fire with telling accuracy on the hostile positions. Finally, when one enemy bunker still resisted his fire, Sergeant Ragsdale again led a volunteer patrol across the river, under fire, and destroyed the enemy machine gun nest and five enemy riflemen. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.