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65th Infantry Regiment

Bronze Star

HEADQUARTERS 3D INFANTRY DIVISION
GENERAL ORDERS # 226 - 4 JULY 1953

AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL  -- BY direction of the President, under the provisions of Executive Order 9419, 4 February 1944 (Sec II, WD Bul 3, 1944), and pursuant to authority in AR 600-45, the Bronze Star Medal (First Bronze Oak-Leaf Cluster) with Letter "V" for heroic achievement in connection ith military operations against an enemy of the United States is awarded to the following named enlisted men:

Sergeant First Class (then Sergeant) JOHN R. WATERS, RA11219838, Infantry, Company "K", 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army. On the night of 24 May 1953, a friendly ambush patrol was deployed around a section of an enemy held hill in the vicinity of Kumhwa, Korea. The patrol was attacked and completely surrounded by numerically superior hostile troops. During the fire fight that ensued, the friendly patrol leader was mortally wounded and the assistant patrol leader was seriously wounded. Sergeant WATERS immediately took charge of the beleaguered group. Observing that the positions they were fighting from had become highly vulnarable to enemy fire, he directed the men to set up a new perimeter in a more advantageous location. Sergeant WATERS, exposing himself to the enemy grenade and small arms fire, moved about to check the wounded. As a result of this action, he was seriously wounded by a grenade fragment. Despite his injury, he helped evacuate the seriously wounded to cover. He then returned to the perimeter and continued directing the defense of friendly positions. His inspirational leadership resulted in keeping the enemy from overrunning the friendly positions until reinforcements arrived. Sergeant WATERS' outstanding heroism and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the military service. Entered the Federal Service from Rhode Island.