(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) John Blair Beach (ASN: 0-25978), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations, during the Battle of Hurtgen Forest, on or about 17 November 1944. First Lieutenant Beach led a charge on a machine- gun nest, taking out the gun, capturing two of the enemy crew and shooting the rest. In the counterattack that ensued, he dashed out under fire to rescue one of his men and ran into a spray of automatic gunfire, falling to the ground with bullet wounds in his legs and hip. German soldiers thought he was dead as they overran the platoon’s position, but they captured him hours later when they came back and discovered that he was still alive. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Beach, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) John Blair Beach (ASN: 0-25978), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Normandy, France, on 16 August 1944. When First Lieutenant Beach’s platoon got to the French town of Coeuvres-et-Valsery, they teamed up with the French Resistance to liberate the city. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Beach, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.