The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant John D. Dempsey (MCSN: 0-36789), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as an Artillery Forward Observer, attached to Battery B, First Battalion, Eleventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against the enemy on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 4 May 1945. In order to maintain his observation post on the crest of a ridge in the infantry front lines in the face of a withering mortar barrage, Second Lieutenant Dempsey went forward with the field telephone and wire and efficiently brought artillery fire against the enemy mortars which were blasting Marine infantrymen. Refusing to permit the enlisted men of his forward observation team to expose themselves, he continued to observe and was watching the effect of the artillery barrage he had fired when he was mortally wounded by fragments from an enemy mortar shell. His heroic self-sacrifice and cool courage throughout reflect the highest credit upon Second Lieutenant Dempsey and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.