John W. Deam

John Warner Deam (6 December 1910 – Killed in action 4 January 1945 near Mande-Saint-Étienne) was a American First Lieutenant in the United States Army during World War II. He also was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross which was awarded for having distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy in circumstances which do not justify the award of the Medal of Honor.

Awards

 * Distinguished Service Cross on 18 May 1945 (posthumously) as First Lieutenant in Company E, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division
 * Purple Heart
 * Combat Action Ribbon

Distinguished service cross citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) John W. Deam (ASN: 0-306349), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company E, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces in Belgium, on 4 January 1945. On that date, an attack launched by Lieutenant Deam's battalion near Mande-St. Etienne, Belgium, was halted by intense enemy fire short of its objective. Lieutenant Deam boldly led his reserve company in a bayonet assault up an open, snow-covered slope and succeeded in reaching the edge of a woods. There, when his company was pinned down by machine gun fire he advanced alone and destroyed a machine gun nest, killing the crew with hand grenades. He charged a second gun but was killed by enemy fire. First Lieutenant Deam's heroic action lives on as an inspiration to his men. The courage he displayed, his fearless determination and supreme devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.