The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class John Francis Brennan (ASN: US-52589942), United States Army, for gallantry in action. Private First Class Brennan distinguished himself on 14 November 1965 while serving as grenadier in a platoon in support of a platoon that was pinned down by intense hostile fire at Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam. During the attack by Private First Class Brennan’s company to relieve the beleaguered platoon, Private First Class Brennan was wounded in the leg while engaging a Viet Cong machine gun position. As the company continued to advance toward a strongly fortified Viet Cong position, his squad leader called for a grenadier to come forward to engage a Viet Cong automatic weapon that was bringing deadly fire to bear on the squad. Realizing that he was the only grenadier remaining in the squad, Private First Class Brennan, disregarding his painful and bleeding wound and under heavy Viet Cong fire, hopped forward to engage the newly discovered Viet Cong position. Upon reaching a position from which he could bring effective fire on the Viet Cong, and while still under intense fire, he engaged the Viet Cong position until mortally wounded by hostile sniper fire. His complete disregard for his safety and willingness to continue to fight after being wounded resulted in saving the lives of numerous members of his squad and served as an inspiration to all of the men in his company. Private First Class Brennan’s unimpeachable valor in close combat against a numerically superior hostile force was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.