The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class John G. Kendrick (ASN: RA-39864143), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Battery A, 37th Field Artillery Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 18 May 1951, in the vicinity of Chaun-ni, Korea. On this date Sergeant Kendrick was a member of a forward observer party helping to direct artillery fire in support of an infantry regiment. The enemy launched a strong attack which forced the infantry to withdraw. Sergeant Kendrick voluntarily and courageously elected to remain at his post to cover the withdrawal of the infantry. In the meantime the enemy started an attack on the infantry battalion command post. Changing the sector of fire to the enemy charging the battalion command post, he stopped the enemy attack long enough to enable the officers and men of the command post to withdraw. Only after the withdrawal was successfully completed did Sergeant Kendrick, then under heavy machine gun and small arms fire, withdraw himself. The gallantry and devotion displayed by Sergeant Kendrick reflect great credit upon himself and uphold the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.