Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Corporal

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    15th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    3d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    October 3, 1951

    Headquarters, 3d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 524 (November 19, 1951)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal John A. Laguardia (ASN: RA-35534275), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company F, 2d Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 3 October 1951, near Chorwon, Korea, during F Company’s assault on Hill 400, the well-entrenched enemy brought intense small arms and automatic weapons fire to bear upon the assaulting unit, halting its advance. Corporal LaGuardia, realizing that the enemy would lay a barrage of artillery, mortar, and grenade fire on the halted unit, with utter disregard for his personal safety, left the comparative safety of his position and made himself a target for the enemy in order to draw and thereby locate the source of the hostile fire. Having accomplished this, Corporal LaGuardia then single-handedly attacked the bunker from which the fire was being delivered, destroying the occupants with hand grenades and allowing his unit to continue its assault and capture the objective with a minimum number of casualties. The gallant initiative and exemplary courage displayed by Corporal LaGuardia reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.