The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal John B. Sheehan (MCSN: 653103), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a Wireman of an Artillery Forward Observer Team of Battery A, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 10 November 1950. With his artillery forward observer seriously wounded and unable to call fire missions during an attack by an estimated four hundred enemy soldiers against his reconnaissance patrol, Corporal Sheehan, although inexperienced in controlling fire missions, promptly moved forward through intense hostile small arms and machine gun fire to an exposed position where he could observe the enemy. Utilizing the patrol commander’s radio when the fire direction radio was damaged by enemy fire, he succeeded in calling down and adjusting two fire missions, firing over two hundred rounds of artillery ammunition before the intensity of the attack necessitated his withdrawing to a covered positions where he could continue the fight with his carbine. By his daring initiative, prompt action and courageous efforts against tremendous odds, Corporal Sheehan was directly instrumental in obtaining and controlling the artillery support which permitted his patrol to disengage from the overwhelming force with a minimum of casualties, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.