The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery) John J. Garner, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as Commanding Officer of the *** Field Artillery Battalion, 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 9 September 1943. Colonel Garner skillfully led a column of amphibious vehicles of his unit toward the shore during the bitterly contested establishment of a beachhead in Italy. When his approach was met with a hail of enemy artillery and machine gun fire from well-established and strongly fortified emplacements along the beach, he displayed outstanding initiative in refusing to be drawn within the enemy trap and safely landed his men. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.