The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant John James Murphy (MCSN: 0-37117), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Pilot in Marine All Weather Fighter Squadron FIVE HUNDRED THIRTEEN (VMF(AW)-513), Marine Aircraft Group THIRTY-THREE (MAG-33), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Yonp’o Area, Korea, on 9 and 10 December 1950. A skilled and resourceful officer, First Lieutenant Murphy voluntarily piloted a Torpedo Bomber Aircraft to an emergency airstrip at Koto-ri and, although he had not flown a plane of this type in four and one-half years, evacuated wounded personnel in the face of intense hostile small-arms and mortar fire. Undeterred by the hazardous landing and take-off facilities occasioned by the temporary runway, he made a total of three flights into the area, carrying nine serious casualties to safety on each mission. His marked courage, perseverance and unwavering devotion to duty were contributing factors in saving the lives of the wounded men and reflect the highest credit upon First Lieutenant Murphy and the United States Naval Service.