The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Chief Engineman John J. Lyons, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a member of the Explosive Ordnance Demolition Unit ONE serving with the U.S. Naval Support Activity, DaNang, Republic of Vietnam, on 1 October 1966. With disregard for his own safety, Chief Petty Officer Lyons assisted a surgeon in an operation to remove a live 60-mm. mortar shell from the chest of a Republic of Vietnam soldier. He participated in the operation, and contributed to the successful removal of the activated shell.