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 Second Lieutenant (Armor) John Leumas Childress (ASN: 0-2003441), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Tank Company, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 26 June 1952, near Tumyong-dong, Korea. Lieutenant Childress, a tank platoon leader, was supervising tank support for Allied infantrymen who were assaulting Hill 183. Splitting his command into two sections, Lieutenant Childress deployed two of the vehicles in a covering position and led the remaining two tanks in an advance on the hill. As they moved up the steep slope in direct support of the advancing infantrymen, enemy mortar and artillery fire became so intense that the friendly riflemen were forced to seek cover. Undaunted, Lieutenant Childress led his vehicles through enemy emplacements to the very crest of the hill. During the entire assault. The commander’s hatch was left open to provide Lieutenant Childress with direct observation of the battle. Suddenly enemy forces converged on the infantry position. Realizing that his machine gun might be instrumental in routing the enemy, the unhesitatingly exposed himself to the violent fire and sprayed the Chinese hordes with lethal fire. Lieutenant Childress was subsequently mortally wounded by sniper fire, but only after he had inflicted many casualties on the attackers, and his accurate fire had enabled his comrades to withstand the assault. The gallantry and courageous leadership displayed by Lieutenant Childress reflect the greatest credit on himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army.