The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant [then Private First Class] John W. Taylor (ASN: 20365502), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company K, 3d Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Normandy, France. On 6 June 1944, during an attack against the enemy at Grandcamp, Company K encountered enemy machine gun and rifle fire which threatened to halt the advance. Seeing that the fire was coming from an exposed enemy machine gun position, Staff Sergeant Taylor, acting on his own initiative, crawled along an exposed road to an advantageous position from which he could place fire upon the enemy gun. From this point, Staff Sergeant Taylor successfully neutralized the enemy weapon with the first rocket fired from his launcher. As a result of Staff Sergeant Taylor’s prompt and courageous actions the company was able to continue with its advance. The intrepidity and devotion to duty displayed by Staff Sergeant Taylor reflect great credit upon himself and uphold the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.