The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Captain John Michael McGrath (NSN: 0-659292), United States Navy, for heroism while serving as U.S. Naval Attach to Ecuador on 23 February 1986. While preparing to disembark a foreign Sailing Vessel to a harbor patrol craft, Captain McGrath witnessed the boarding ladder disintegrate as the two hulls unexpectedly and violently came together. The sudden destruction of the boarding ladder tossed two female passengers into the seas between the two hulls. Recognizing the immediate danger of the situation, and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, Captain McGrath scaled down the dangling ladder cables, leapt to the deck of the patrol craft and threw a life preserver to the injured women struggling in the water between the two hulls. Using only his physical strength, he force the two hulls apart, dropped into the choppy water, and pulled the two women to safety. By his courageous and prompt actions in the face of great personal risk, Captain McGrath prevented serious injury or loss of life; thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Bronze Star Medal
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Prisoner of War Medal
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Defense Superior Service Medal
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Legion of Merit
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Bronze Star Medal
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Bronze Star Medal
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Silver Star
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
January 1968
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander John Michael McGrath (NSN: 0-659292), United States Navy, for heroic achievement while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam in January 1968. Under constant pressure from North Vietnamese interrogators and guards, he experienced harassment, intimidation and ruthless treatment in their attempt to gain military information and cooperative participation for propaganda purposes. He heroically resisted their routine cruelties and never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. These actions served to inspire and improve the morale of his fellow prisoners in the camp. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
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Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
June 30, 1967 – March 4, 1973
Lieutenant Commander John Michael McGrath (NSN: 0-659292), United States Navy, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from June 30, 1967 until his release on March 4, 1973.
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Defense Superior Service Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CaptainAction Date:
October 1983 – December 1986
Under the provisions of Department of Defense 1348.33-M, the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Defense Superior Service Medal to Captain John Michael McGrath (NSN: 0-659292), United States Navy, for exceptionally superior service as Naval Attach and Naval Attach for Air, United States Defense Attach Office, Quito, Ecuador, Defense Intelligence Agency, from October 1983 to December 1986. He developed effective relationships with senior Ecuadorian military leaders, gained their confidence and respect in all military matters, and provided guidance to them in development of long range goals consonant with United States security interests. His representational activities before military counterparts in Ecuador and in visits to neighboring Latin American countries earned him highest praise as a professional United States Navy officer and as an American military diplomat. His skills as pilot of the mission aircraft have been recognized by senior United States and foreign authorities. Throughout, Captain McGrath provided timely, thorough, accurate, and incisive reports on military-related matters impacting on United States defense interests in the region. The distinctive accomplishments of Captain McGrath culminate a distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Navy, and the Department of Defense.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CaptainDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
June 1967 – March 1973
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Captain John Michael McGrath (NSN: 0-659292), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from June 1967 to March 1973. Under the most adverse conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States, never wavering in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. In an outstanding and tireless fashion he serves as both an educator and an entertainer to provide diversion and constructive rehabilitative thinking to his fellow prisoners during their long internment. Despite harsh treatment and a lack of material aids, he devoted long hours toward improving their morale and well-being. His extraordinary skill, resourcefulness, and dedication to duty throughout his lengthy confinement reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderBatallion:
Attack Squadron 146 (VA-146)Action Date:
Vietnam War
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander John Michael McGrath (NSN: 0-659292), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of an A-4C aircraft of Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SIX (VA-146), in action over Southeast Asia in 1966/19657. His gallant and untiring devotion to duty was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderBatallion:
Attack Squadron 146 (VA-146)Action Date:
Vietnam War
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander John Michael McGrath (NSN: 0-659292), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of an A-4C aircraft of Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SIX (VA-146), in action over Southeast Asia in 1966/19657. His gallant and untiring devotion to duty was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
June 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander John Michael McGrath (NSN: 0-659292), United States Navy, for heroic achievement while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam in June 1967. Under constant pressure from North Vietnamese interrogators and guards, he experienced harassment, intimidation and ruthless treatment in their attempt to gain military information and cooperative participation for propaganda purposes. He heroically resisted their routine cruelties and never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. These actions served to inspire and improve the morale of his fellow prisoners in the camp. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderAction Date:
July 1967 – May 1969
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander John Michael McGrath (NSN: 0-659292), United States Navy, for meritorious service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from July to August 19067 and from March 1968 to May 1969. Through his ceaseless efforts, in an atmosphere of enemy harassment, threat of torture and brutal treatment, he established and maintained intracamp communications. At great risk and in spite of further cruelty, he continued to devise many unusual and ingenious methods of communications, resulting in American and Allied prisoners resisting the enemy’s demands and at the same time improving the prisoners’ morale. By his heroic endeavors, exceptional skill, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
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Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
July 1967 – May 1969
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander John Michael McGrath (NSN: 0-659292), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from July 1967 to May 1969. Lieutenant Commander McGrath’s captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion, Lieutenant Commander McGrath reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.