The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant [then Private First Class] John Morici (ASN: 32718488), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 35th Infantry Division, in action in the vicinity of ****, France, on 30 July 1944. Sergeant Morici, an assistant machine gunner, together with the gunner successfully retarded an attempted enemy counterattack by exposing himself to enemy fire on his unit’s flank and effectively firing his weapon until it was destroyed. Even then, he continued to harass the enemy with his pistol fire, as a result of which his unit was enabled to interrupt the enemy counterattack. Sergeant Morici’s zealous devotion to duty and his tenacity of purpose constitute such gallantry in action as to reflect high credit upon the military service.