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 A. Wertz (ASN: RA-35378876), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 6 September 1950, in the vicinity of Sibi-ri, Korea. On that date Sergeant Wertz accompanied a rifle company in an attack upon a steep hill in order to dislodge a numerically superior concentration of enemy troops from a stronghold at the top of the hill. Advancing over open and very steep ground and in the face of intense heavy small arms, grenade and mortar fire, the attacking unit suffered heavy casualties. Seeing that the aid men present were unable to remove the many wounded, Sergeant Wertz, with total disregard for his own safety, moved up from a reserve position through a hail of fire to assist in the removal of the wounded. In the course of a three hour action, Sergeant Wertz made several trips up and down the hill. His heroic act was responsible for the recovery of many of his comrades and their evacuation for immediate medical aid. The gallantry in action displayed by Sergeant Wertz reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.