The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Infantry), [then Second Lieutenant] John P. McFadden (ASN: 0-1315087), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 129th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces near Fort Stotsenberg, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 29 January 1945 and 2 February 1945. After skillfully leading his platoon in capturing a strongly defended hill and directing mopping up operations against enemy-held caves, Lieutenant McFadden was establishing a perimeter defense for the night when six Japanese tanks attacked the position. Two tanks concentrated 7-mm. and machine gun fire on the platoon from the rear killing three men and seriously wounding three others. Lieutenant McFadden directed the fire of his men on the tanks and disregarding the intense fire, went to the assistance of the wounded men, administered first aid and applied tourniquets and moved them to partial cover. Although wounded by a shell fragment, he remained with the wounded until he was relieved by other members of his platoon. Four days later while attacking an enemy-held hill through 20-mm. machine gun and mortar fire, Lieutenant McFadden led his platoon up the face of a cliff. Upon reaching the crest, he learned that two men had been killed and one wounded by enemy fire from a bypassed cave on the left flank and, realizing the grave danger to the success of the operation, he led two flame thrower teams to the cave. After directing a burst of flame into the entrance, he boldly leaped inside the cave and killed the tree occupants, eliminating a serious enemy threat. Lieutenant McFadden’s inspiring and skillful leadership, superb personal bravery, and outstanding gallantry in going to the aid of wounded men on two occasions and in removing a grave danger to his platoon is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon United States Army.