GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, FAR EAST COMMAND, General Orders No. 166, 28 June 1951, First Lieutenant JOHN E. GRAY, 058411, Infantry, United States Army, Company M, 31st Infantry Regiment, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations near the Chosin Reservoir, Korea, on 1 December 1950. Lieutenant GRAY had been wounded in the hand and both legs on 29 November while directing the fire of his mortar platoon in defense of a sector of the battalion command post perimeter against repeated attacks by a numerically superior hostile force. The battalion was completely surrounded and only limited aerial evacuation of the wounded could be effected. Lieutenant GRAY elected to remain with his organization, and on 1 December, when order were given to attempt a break-out of the encirclement, he was ordered to ride on a convoy vehicle with other wounded. After proceeding about four miles, the battalion was halted at approximately 1600 hours by murderous fire from a road block and well-entrenched positions on both flanks. In the ensuing action, the enemy inflicted many casualties causing disorder among the troops. Lieutenant GRAY, though hardly able to walk and suffering greatly from his wounds, voluntarily left his transportation to rally and reorganize a group of soldiers, and fearlessly led them up high ground against hostile emplacements. After capturing a sector of the enemy’s perimeter and realizing he has insufficient troop strength to maintain the position, Lieutenant GRAY again moved through barrages of vicious fire, returned to the bottom of the hill, organized another group of men and charged the enemy, routing them from their strongpoints and enabling the convoy to resume its advance. Lieutenant GRAY’s superb leadership, gallant and aggressive actions, and sustained devotion to duty reflect utmost credit on himself and the honored traditions of the military service. (This award supersedes the award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Gray, for gallantry in action of the same date, published in General Orders 107, Headquarters, 7th Infantry Division, 1951, as amended.)
BY COMMAND OF GENERAL RIDGEWAY:
DOYLE C. HICKEY
Lieutenant General, General Staff Corps
Chief of Staff
Col. Gray joined the L.O.V. in 1970 and resides in North Carolina. He is a life member.