John Gordon Word

Captain, U. S. Marine Corps

Navy Cross

GENERAL ORDERS:
Authority: Board of Awards: Serial 382 (May 14, 1953)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Second Lieutenant John G. Word (MCSN: 0-54219), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Rifle Platoon Commander of Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea from 5 to 7 September 1952. Assigned the mission of commanding a relief force for a badly depleted unit occupying a combat outpost more than one mile forward of the main line of resistance, Second Lieutenant Word, although wounded during the initial stages of the action, bravely exposed himself to enemy fire to supervise the evacuation of the casualties, skillfully deployed his men and directed the construction of defensive positions while subjected to persistent hostile artillery and mortar fire. When the outpost was attacked during the night by a reinforced enemy company supported by an intense mortar and artillery barrage, he engaged the hostile force in a fierce fire fight and, maintaining effective control of his unit, directed his men in successfully repulsing the assault. Throughout repeated attacks on the following night by numerically superior enemy forces of approximately battalion strength, he continuously exposed himself to hostile fire to direct the supporting arms and, controlling and coordinating the fire of his unit with outstanding tactical skill, inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy. Constantly moving among his men to encourage and reassure them between assaults, he directed the preparation of defenses in readiness for further attacks and administered timely assistance to the casualties, greatly aiding in saving the lives of three of the wounded Marines. Second Lieutenant Word's forceful and determined leadership served to inspire his men to heroic endeavor in successfully defending the strategic outpost. His superb courage and valiant fighting spirit reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.