The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Sergeant John R. O’Malley (ASN: US-55032333), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company G, 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Korea. On 22 May 1951, the Second Platoon of Company G was occupying defensive positions on an outpost near Changyong-ni, Korea, when it was suddenly attacked and subjected to a withering barrage of hostile automatic-weapons and small-arms fire. The ensuing fire-fight was so intense that the friendly forces were running critically low on ammunition. Sergeant O’Malley, a squad leader, immediately volunteered to return to the supply point and replenish the dwindling ammunition supply. With complete disregard for his personal safety he fearlessly made his way over the fire-swept terrain, distributing ammunition and hand grenades to the men. He courageously repeated this process of distributing ammunition from position to position and at one point he was painfully wounded by an enemy bullet, but disregarding the intense pain, he continued his task until he was assured that each man had an adequate ammunition supply. His determined action and untiring devotion to duty was instrumental to his platoon’s successful repulsion of the enemy. Sergeant O’Malley’s heroism reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.

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 John R. O’Malley (ASN: US-55032333), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company G, 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 9 February 1951, near Sinhyon-ni, Korea, a platoon of Company G was assaulting a well dug-in enemy position when, suddenly, intense enemy small arms and automatic fire pinned it down. Corporal O’Malley saw a wounded automatic rifleman in an area exposed to heavy enemy fire. Despite the danger involved, he ran to the assistance of the wounded man and carried him to safety. As he was attempting to return to his pinned down platoon, Corporal O’Malley saw two other wounded men. He again exposed himself to the enemy fire in order to evacuate those wounded soldiers. The courage and regard for his comrades displayed by Corporal O’Malley reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.