The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Medical Corps) John Erbes (ASN: 0-380930), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as a Medical Officer, 67th Armored Regiment, 2d Armored Division, in action against an armed enemy. During the period ** to ** December 1942, Captain Erbes distinguished himself by aggressively and conspicuously treating and evacuating the wounded of Company *, 67th Armored Regiment in Tunisia, moving through enemy anti-tank artillery and small arms fire and with total disregard of his own safety. The tenacity, courage, and coolness of Captain Erbes were in the highest military tradition.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Captain (Medical Corps) John Erbes (ASN: 0-380930), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy on 6 October 1944 in Germany. During this action on 6 October 1944, Captain Erbes arrived at the objective of the 3d Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, shortly after the leading elements. He established a forward aid station at the position using his men to dig a suitable shelter. The entire position was exposed to enemy observation from three sides and was subjected to heavy shelling constantly. Disregarding the hostile fire, Captain Erbes repeatedly exposed himself to this enemy fire to personally seek out and treat reported casualties. On one occasion when four enemy planes came over the area and shot down a Corps artillery plane, Captain Erbes voluntarily rushed with a half-track ambulance about 100 yards across the exposed area, in an attempt to remove the occupants of the plane. As he approached the burning plane, the enemy placed an artillery air burst over the plane. Regardless of the fact that a high air burst is usually followed by a concentration, Captain Erbes recovered the body of an occupant of the plane and determined that the pilot was dead and could not be removed from the burning wreckage before leaving the scene. Captain Erbes personally remained at the forward station until ordered to rotate with his assistant surgeon. The valor, courage and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Erbes reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

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 Major (Medical Corps) John Erbes (ASN: 0-380930), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 3 January 1945 while serving with the 67th Armored Regiment, 2d Armored Division, in Belgium. On this date near La Lormenil, Belgium, Major Erbes saved the lives of eleven wounded American soldiers by evacuating them on a half-track ambulance through an enemy mine field and through heavy enemy artillery fire. This evacuation took place during the fiercest phase of the counter-attack and would have meant the capture of the eleven wounded men and the possible death of two of them who were seriously wounded.

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 Captain (Medical Corps) John Erbes (ASN: 0-380930), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy on 7 August 1944 in France. At about 1400B, 7 August 1944, the Command Post of the 3d Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, was subjected to intense artillery fire. During this shelling, one officer was mortally wounded by a shell fragment, and Captain Erbes, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, exposed himself to the flying shell fragments, staying with the wounded officer and administering plasma in a vain attempt to save his life. After the wounded officer died and while still under heavy artillery shelling, Captain Erbes, in the company of another soldier, went to the aid of another badly wounded soldier. This man was evacuated to safety only after Captain Erbes and the soldier in his company had crossed open ground directly exposed to continual shell bursts. The valor and courage displayed by Captain Erbes reflects great credit upon himself and in in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.