The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Field Artillery) John B. Murphy, Jr. (ASN: 0-58525), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with Battery A, 61st Artillery battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, on 31 August 1950 near Waegwan, Korea. When the infantry regiment to which his unit was furnishing artillery fire support came under very heavy enemy mortar and automatic weapons fire, Lieutenant Murphy, as forward artillery observer, noticed that the artillery fire on the enemy positions was not fully effective due to lack of adequate observation. With extreme devotion to duty and disregard for his own safety, Lieutenant Murphy voluntarily left his position of comparative safety and exposed himself to the intense enemy fire in attempting to reach an elevation from which he could better observe and direct the artillery fire. In trying to reach his chosen objective he was struck by a mortar shell fragment and instantly killed. The inspirational courage and gallantry displayed by Lieutenant Murphy in sacrificing his life for his country reflect great credit on himself and the military service.