The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) John K. Daly (ASN: 0-1339703), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, (then Commanding Officer of Company F, 2d Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division), near Sangsan-ni, Korea, on 19 October 1951. His company had the mission of taking and securing Objective KING, a mountainous terrain feature. The First Platoon went into the assault but sustained heavy casualties in the fight against the numerically superior enemy force. The Third Platoon, on the opposite side of the same peak, had fought its way to within 100 yards of the hostile positions before being pinned down by terrific enemy automatic weapons fire. When Lieutenant Daly, who was with this platoon, saw the enemy preparing to counterattack, he realized the danger to the crippled First Platoon. Picking up an automatic rifle and a magazine belt, he shouted for his men to follow him and charged up the slope. Advancing through grenades, withering automatic weapons and small arms fire, he reached the enemy position and trenches well ahead of his men and became engaged in fierce fire fights. So furious was his attack that the enemy desperately rushed to the defense of that side of the hill, thereby allowing the First Platoon to withdraw and evacuate its casualties. Then, with devastatingly accurate fire, he killed four enemy soldiers and wounded many others and remained to cover his platoon’s withdrawal. He then safely made his way down from the enemy-held peak and rejoined his men. Lieutenant Daly’s courageous action, exemplary leadership, and selfless devotion to duty reflect the highest credit on himself and the United States Infantry.