Navy Federal Credit Union

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Armor) John N. Roush, Jr., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company A, 71st Tank Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. First Lieutenant Roush distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Taejon, Korea, on 16 July 1950. Lieutenant Roush’s platoon of four tanks was attached to the 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Division, to assist with the withdrawal of the unit from the Kum River to Taejon, fourteen miles to the rear. The 19th Infantry Regiment was outflanked on both sides and seven miles of the road to Taejon was under enemy fire from automatic and antitank weapons. Lieutenant Roush kept his tank on the Kum River line under constant artillery and mortar fire for approximately six hours, shelling the enemy and preventing entrance into the town of Taegu-youn-ni. His tank was the last vehicle to leave the Kum River defense line. Withdrawing his tank, he destroyed an enemy machine-gun nest, which had pinned down a company of the 19th Infantry Regiment and set fire to the town with white phosphorus shelling. Lieutenant Roush, with complete disregard for his own safety, exposed himself to intense small arms fire to remove wounded men from a rice paddy while fire from his tank permitted the balance to crawl to safety. Lieutenant Roush loaded the wounded, who were unable to walk, on the top of his tank and proceeded to the Regimental Headquarters. He found the regimental commander seriously wounded. It was agreed that a staff officer would lead those able to walk and carry the wounded through the mountains. Lieutenant Roush decided to run the seven-mile gauntlet with the wounded regimental commander in his tank. The remainder of the unit followed his tank in fifteen trucks. Lieutenant Roush, with superb skill and personal daring, bypassed or destroyed several enemy roadblocks and cleared several burning wrecks from the path of the column. One mile from friendly lines his tank was disabled by enemy fire and, despite this fire, Lieutenant Roush dismounted and halted the last truck, placed the wounded regimental commander on board, destroyed his tank, and succeeded with his crew in reaching the friendly lines. The inspiring leadership and gallant actions of this officer contributed greatly to the 19th Infantry Regiment’s withdrawal, the saving of many of the Regiment’s wounded, including its commander, fifteen of its vehicles, and causing heavy losses to the enemy. The extraordinary heroism displayed by First Lieutenant Roush on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.

Awards Received