John T. Middlebrook

Gunnery Sergeant, U. S. Marine Corps

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Pacific: Serial 41635
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Gunnery Sergeant John T. Middlebrook (MCSN: 229867), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Platoon Leader of Company I, Third Battalion, Twenty-fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 28 February 1945.
When his platoon was ordered to advance, Gunnery Sergeant Middlebrook moved out alone ahead of the lines to determine the position of enemy weapons and, finding the exact location of their fire lanes, enabled his platoon to maneuver safely through the danger space. Upon reaching the objective, he found the friendly troops pinned down and immobilized by casualties and, assuming command of a part of the unit which had lost its leaders, reorganized the men and set up a defensive position to fill a gap, thus presenting a solid line to the Japanese.
Braving a heavy enemy mortar barrage and intense small-arms fire, he moved again into hostile territory to try to locate the unit which was to contact his right flank and, finding it two hundred yards to his rear, discovered two large enemy pillboxes which were among the obstacles in its path.
Returning to his platoon, he directed machine-gun fire on these positions, destroying one and neutralizing the other, thereby enabling the troops on the right to continue the attack. His leadership, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.