COLONEL JOHN D. COUNSELMAN, (then Second Lieutenant) United States Marine Corps. For extraordinary heroism as Commander of a Rifle Platoon in Company G, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 17 and 26 September 1950. Receiving a head wound immediately upon contact with an undetermined number of the enemy defending a well entrenched and skillfully camouflaged machine-gun position near Seoul, Second Lieutenant Counselman refused to be evacuated and unhesitatingly led his combat patrol in destroying nineteen and wounding three of the hostile troops. Frequently exposing himself to automatic weapons, rifle and grenade fire, he skillfully directed the fight, personally killing several of the enemy, and attended to his own painful wound only after the hostile emplacement had been neutralized. Wounded again on 26 September by hostile fire from a road block which obstructed the advance of his platoon in Seoul, he strategically deployed his men and spotted effective fire which demolished the enemy and the block. His able and cool leadership, indomitable fighting spirit and gallant devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Second Lieutenant Counselman and the United States Naval Services.

COL Counselman was a life member and resided in California.