The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class John P. Downing (ASN: 34989507), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company E, 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in France. On 23 January 1945, when his company met such heavy resistance near Ostheim, France, that it was forced to withdraw for a reorganization, Private First Class Downing was wounded in the arm by a bullet. As he started crawling back across 700 yards of flat and open terrain, he heard a cry for help. Finding a comrade shot through the leg, Private First Class Downing began half-carrying and dragging him to the rear. Despite his own painful wound and enemy fire sweeping the terrain, he brought his companion back to the cover of a woods, a task that took him an hour to accomplish. Upon reaching an aid station, Private First Class Downing fell unconscious from loss of blood. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Private First Class Downing, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.