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 Staff Sergeant John J. Murray (ASN: 11069711), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 167th Infantry Regiment, 31st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on the Kibawe-Taloma Trail, Mindanao, Philippine Islands, on 19 June 1945. During military operations which culminated in the clearing of Japanese forces from Mindanao, Philippine Islands, Sergeant Murray was leading an assault squad up the precipitous Kibawe-Taloma Trail in preparation for an attack against an enemy-held objective when devastating automatic fire, emanating from a strongly-fortified Japanese position, halted the advance, killing his two lead scouts. Skillfully deploying the five remaining members of the squad, he called for mortar fire against the hostile position and asked for another squad to flank the enemy immediately following the mortar barrage while he meanwhile kept up diversionary fire on the enemy’s front. The mortars fired but were ineffective in knocking out the position, and the flanking squad, due to the adverse terrain, was slow in moving in upon the enemy. Feeling that the propitious moment of attack was slipping away, Sergeant Murray, with utter disregard for his own safety, hurled a phosphorous grenade into the emplacement, rose, and in the face of enemy fire charged the stronghold, firing his sub-machine gun into it as he advanced, killing the occupants and clearing the way for the platoon’s advance. Through his outstanding heroism, indomitable fighting spirit, and unremitting determination to destroy the foe, Sergeant Murray made a distinct contribution to the successful completion of an important mission and his brilliant performance of duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.