The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technical Sergeant John H. Smullen (ASN: 31143398), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 23 September 1944, while serving with Company C, 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, in the vicinity of Castel del Rio, Italy. Company C was advancing as a task force with direct orders to protect the main supply route for battalions situated on the right and left flanks of the road. Sergeant Smullen was platoon sergeant of the leading platoon which was given the hazardous assignment of clearing out the river bed. Shooting from the high ground above the river, the Germans continuously sent mortar shells blasting among his men, resulting in many casualties. A machine gun was spraying and sniping the supply route from an advantageous position on the left flank of the road. Sergeant Smullen, with his platoon leader and two of his BAR men, voluntarily crawled forward through the hostile fire. While the platoon leader and one of the soldiers were moving towards the first machine gun, Sergeant Smullen deliberately stood up, exposing himself to the enemy and drawing their fire, allowing another man to knock out the gun position.; Still exposed to enemy fire, he doggedly crawled to within thirty feet of the second enemy machine gun position and hurled two hand grenades, killing two Germans and destroying the weapon. During this action, Sergeant Smullen was seriously wounded about the face and throat, but refused medical attention until he was sure that his platoon leader and the man returned from their mission. The destruction of this weapon allowed the supply route to remain open and entirely unmolested from enemy machine gun fire. His gallant exposure to extreme danger, in the face of deadly enemy fire, is an inspiration to all and upholds the most glorious traditions of the armed forces.